Oilers Gameday – Vs. Canucks

The 6-10-2 Oilers are now on life support. Their slim playoff hopes are almost gone, patience is running out, and frustration is growing very quickly. Edmonton enters tonight’s match-up in game three of a five game home-stand, in which they have gone 0-1-1 in to this point. It’s safe to say that tonight is a must win hockey game for Edmonton.

The Oilers are a healthy bunch right now, but will see a change in the lineup, as Jesse Joensuu gets a spot in the press box in favor of recent call up Steve Pinizzotto. The Canucks are also a healthy group, with no major injuries to speak of.

Ben Scrivens gets another crack at Vancouver tonight, while Ryan Miller looks to stay undefeated against Edmonton in his lengthy career.

The Last Games:

Edmonton and Vancouver both played the Arizona Coyotes last, with the Yotes finishing their western Canada swing in Edmonton on Sunday. The Oilers came out strong in the first period, and out played Arizona, but couldn’t solve Devan Dubnyk. Brandon Gormley scored his first NHL goal at the 14:08 mark on the power-play to give the Coyotes a lead, which they held the whole night.

Dubnyk stood tall throughout the second, and was able to stay perfect until Arizona scored an insurance marker at the 12:51 mark of the third period thanks to a Mikkel Boedker tally. Taylor Hall broke the shut-out at 14:10, but it wasn’t enough, as Dubnyk shut the Oilers down to preserve the 2-1 Coyotes win.

Vancouver hosted the same Arizona team on Friday, but had much less luck. The Coyotes dominated for sixty full minutes, as nothing went right for Vancouver. Martin Hanzal scored the game’s first three goals for a natural hat-trick, while both Keith Yandle and Shane Doan added insurance markers to give the Coyotes five goals. Devan Dubnyk stopped 35 shots in a 5-0 shut-out victory for Arizona.

The Last Meeting:

Edmonton and Vancouver met in a chippy and physical affair 18 days ago on the first of the month. The Oilers came out and played their best period of the season to date in the first, hemming the Canucks in and firing away on Ryan Miller. They got rewarded too, as Jordan Eberle scored the game’s first goal late in the frame. Edmonton has a bad break down late however, and Luca Sbisa made them pay, tying the game at one.

Linden Vey scored to give Vancouver a lead mid-way through the second, but David Perron scored moments later to tie the game at two. In the third, Ben Scrivens badly misplayed a puck leading to a short-handed chance which Derek Dorsett would convert on to give the Canucks a 3-2 lead that would end up being the final result.

Taylor Hall was injured in this hockey game, while Andrew Ference threw a hit on Zack Kassian that resulted in a three game suspension.

Keys To The Game:

Edmonton: You know, I was watching the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night and caught myself saying “Wow, I wish the Oilers could play that way” which made me feel dirty. It’s true however, and tonight’s key is connected to that thought. Edmonton needs to dig in and work tonight. They have lost all three prior meetings this year, but by a combined three goals. They have been close. Tonight, it’s time to bring that hard hat. Work hard, and eventually the luck will change.

Vancouver: Simple, play that physical defensive style. Edmonton is a soft hockey team, and has been beat up repeatedly over the years by these Canucks. If the usual suspects make life hard for the Oilers tonight, then there is no way the Canucks don’t get the two points.

Players To Watch:

Edmonton: Oilers forward David Perron has struggled mightily this season, he’s been unable to produce much offense goal scoring wise. That said, he’s looked good in all the prior contests against Vancouver, and played his best game in the last meeting. I’ll say he has a solid game tonight, and is a key cog in the attack, scoring another goal against Ryan Miller.

Vancouver: I don’t like to use the goalie here, but don’t you have to? Ryan Miller has OWNED the Oilers throughout his career, he is undefeated against them. He’s the reason the Canucks won the last two meetings between the sides, and will have to be sharp again tonight against a desperate Oiler team. I’ll be watching him closely.

Quick Hits:

This will be the fourth meeting of the season between Edmonton and Vancouver, sixth if you consider the two late pre-season games. The Canucks have won all three regular season games, and both pre-season games. They did so by one goal margins every single time. Ryan Miller is unbeaten in his career against Edmonton. Steve Pinizzotto will make his regular season debut on the season tonight after being recalled earlier in the week.

The Lines:

Edmonton Oilers Lines:

Taylor Hall – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jordan Eberle

David Perron – Mark Arcobello – Nail Yakupov

Benoit Pouliot – Leon Draisaitl – Teddy Purcell

Matt Hendricks – Boyd Gordon – Steve Pinizzotto

Andrew Ference – Jeff Petry

Nikita Nikitin – Mark Fayne

Keith Aulie – Justin Schultz

Ben Scrivens

Vancouver Canucks Lines:

Daniel Sedin – Henrik Sedin – Radim Vrbata

Chris Higgins – Nick Bonino – Alex Burrows

Shawn Matthias – Brad Richardson – Zack Kassian

Derek Dorsett – Linden Vey – Jannik Hansen

Alex Edler – Chris Tanev

Ryan Stanton – Kevin Bieksa

Dan Hamhuis – Yannick Weber

Ryan Miller