The Edmonton Oilers have been on the road for seven of their last eight games, and cross the country in doing so.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Vancouver Canucks
When: Saturday, 7 p.m., Rogers Arena
TV: Hockey Night In Canada. Radio: Sportsnet 650
The buzz: You may have heard Saturday is Hockey Day in Canada. The Canucks versus Oilers’ game will be the nightcap for a full day of hockey. In another year, the celebration of the world’s fastest game would probably have more buzz to it, but with the Canucks in turmoil, all eyes are on what management’s next move will be.
Can the Canucks overcome their internal distractions to face up to the juggernaut Oilers on Saturday. Led by Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid — Draisaitl is playing so well that he’s an MVP favourite over McDavid, who is having a great season himself — Edmonton has won eight of their last 10 games.
The history: The Oilers blitzed the Canucks 7-3 in November, a game that didn’t live up to the playoff rematch pre-game hype.
The hope: Last Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs the Canucks commanded the game in exactly the way they believe they can do every night. They would love to prove they can do it against the Oilers, especially on the back of Thursday’s dismal effort against L.A.
The fear: After getting munched by L.A. on Thursday and Winnipeg on Tuesday, why shouldn’t the fast-skating Oilers munch them as well?
The top guns: Quinn Hughes is great. But upfront, Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller’s seasons have been so dismal that Conor Garland is currently the leading scorer among Canucks forwards with 31 points. On the other hand, Draisaitl has 31 goals on the season.
The wounded: Canucks: Dakota Joshua (leg, week-to-week), and Noah Juulsen, (undisclosed, day to day). Oilers: Evander Kane (hip, six to eight weeks).
The quote: “It’s been an interesting year.” — Brock Boeser, wryly, about the internal and external distractions that his team has faced this season.
The latest: Sources say that Miller is very much on the block, as much as ownership may not want to see the usually boisterous centreman go. It’s amazing to think how well he played last year, how much he won the adulation of fans — and for everything now to be so ugly. He’s playing just 14 minutes a night and is struggling to produce. It feels over.
The lineup:
DeBrusk-Pettersson-Lekkerimäki
Di Giuseppe-Miller-Boeser
Heinen-Suter-Garland
Höglander-Blueger-Sherwood
Hughes-Hronek
Soucy-Myers
Forbort-Desharnais
Lankinen
The prediction: The Canucks, surely, will put it all together. They’ve been embarrassed enough. They’ll win this one, 4-3.