Tocchet addresses the underdog status ahead of Oilers' series

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Cooper Godin
May 6, 2024 (1:16 PM)

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The Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers will face off in Game 1 of their second-round series on Wednesday night at Rogers Arena, and it's set to be an intense battle between the two Canadian teams.

With the Oilers having two of the game's best players in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, there aren't a whole lot of experts giving the Canucks any hope in this series, but despite that, Rick Tocchet is confident in his group and says that he loves being doubted.

"I do. I love being doubted. At the start of the year, if you asked if Vancouver would make the playoffs, many people would have said no or bubble team. So, underdogs there. As the season went on, people asked 'when are they going to fall?', and same thing now, people saying 'the Preds are going to win'." Tocchet said.

He added, "We like that underdog role, and players should embrace it. I do."

Being the underdog doesn't faze Rick Tocchet. He knows what the Canucks are capable of and what they did to the Edmonton Oilers during the regular season, beating them in all four matches against each other. Granted, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are a whole different ball game compared to the regular season, but those results matter. It shows that the Canucks won't back down from the challenge of facing Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and that they know they can defeat them in a seven-game series.

Puck drop for Game 1 on Wednesday night is set for 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET on Sportsnet and CBC nationally across Canada.

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