2021-22 Edmonton Oilers G1: Oilers Vs. Canucks

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Edmonton Sun

Oilers and Canucks? Let’s get it on

Vancouver Canucks (0-0-0, 1st in Pacific) at Edmonton Oilers (0-0-0 1st in Pacific)
The Canucks will be without star winger Brock Boeser who is being placed on injured reserve to open the season.
The news on Brandon Sutter is bad, as well, as the forward is still battling the after-effects of his bout with COVID-19.
Duncan Keith will make his regular-season debut for the Oilers in what they hope will provide the kind of poise, stability and leadership that was often missing from their blue line in seasons past.
They need to address their record at Rogers Place, where they were a pedestrian 16-12-0 last season, compared with 19-7-2 on the road.
The only area that remains unchanged from last year is goaltending, where Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen are charged with making Edmonton a Stanley Cup contender.

EDMONTON OILERS

Leon Draisaitl • Connor McDavid • Jesse Puljujarvi
Zach Hyman • Ryan Nugent-Hopkins • Kailer Yamamoto
Warren Foegele • Derek Ryan • Colton Sceviour
Brendan Perlini • Devin Shore • Kyle Turris

Darnell Nurse • Tyson Barrie
Duncan Keith • Cody Ceci
Kris Russell • Evan Bouchard

Mike Smith
Mikko Koskinen

VANCOUVER CANUCKS

JT Miller • Elias Petterson • Alex Chiasson
Tanner Pearson • Bo Horvat • Conor Garland
Matthew Highmore • Jason Dickenson • Nils Hoglander
Justin Dowling • Juho Lammikko • Vasily Podkolzin

Oliver Ekman-Larsson • Tyler Myers
Quinn Hughes • Tucker Poolman
Brad Hunt • Luke Schenn

Thatcher Demko
Jaroslav Halak

BLH’s Thoughts: Woof! Looking at that Canucks lineup shouldn’t make any fan of the club optimistic. I love Alex Chiasson, but he shouldn’t be anywhere near the top line, that should be Nils Hoglander or even Vasili Podkolzin on the short term until Boeser returns.

Vancouver’s defense is going to get picked apart by some highly skilled teams I reckon. I hope Demko and Halak are all buckled up…

If I read things on Twitter right, I think Devin Shore could be out for tonight’s game with Ryan McLeod replacing him. So that’s another chance for the fleetfooted forward to stake his claim as a proper full-time NHLer.

Oilersnation

Game Notes: Canucks @ Oilers G1

Edmonton has the 10th best points% in season openers going 22-15-4 for .585P%.
This is the third consecutive season the Oilers begin the campaign with a home game against Vancouver.
After three seasons with very little improvement in lowering their goals against at 5×5, Edmonton made some progress last season. They allowed 2.18 in 2018, 2.14 in 2019 and 2.16 in 2020. It dropped to 2.07 in 2021.
Edmonton currently has seven new players on the roster: Hyman, Foegele, Ryan, Brendan Perlini, Tyler Benson, Duncan Keith and Cody Ceci. When they announce the Colton Sceviour contract it will be eight.
Vancouver has 13 new faces currently on the roster. They brought in Chiasson, Jason Dickinson, Justin Downing, Connor Garland, Juho Lammiko, Nik Petan, Vasily Podkolsin, Kyle Burroughs, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Brad Hunt, Tucker Poolman, Luke Schenn and Jaroslav Halak.

BLH’s Thoughts: My Three Players to Watch (3P2W) for tonight’s game are:

Jesse Puljujarvi – Had a great preseason, can he continue that progress into the season and become Edmonton’s next great offensive weapon?

Evan Bouchard – Lots of attention will be paid to the debuts of Duncan Keith and Cody Ceci, will that offer up some some space on the ice for the Oilers young defensive phenom?

Zach Hyman – We all thought he’d be starting the year on McDavid’s wing but maybe Coach Tippett has had some sort of epiphany or something because he’s on Nuge’s wing. Either way, we’re about to witness whether or not he’s as advertised?

Vancouver

Vasili Podkolzin – Remember when crashing the net was a popular way to score goals? Well this Russian bull is about to bring it back. He’s tough as nails and he doesn’t back down from anybody.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Will this change of scenery rejuvenate his career and propel the Canucks into the playoffs?

Conor Garland – Ran Arizona’s offense for years, will he be what the doctor ordered while Brock Boeser is out? He’s a sneaky sneaky scorer, so the Oilers will not want to lose track of this guy.

The Daily Goal Horn

Rangers Kravtsov seeks a trade

Per a source, Kravtsov feels very strongly that he belongs at the NHL level and is a very confident, maybe too confident hockey player to accept this demotion. A trade should not be hard to facilitate, but NY won’t just give him away.

Red Wings open to big trades?

“I could see them moving another top-six piece, absolutely,” said Bultman. “They’re not at the place where you could see the rebuild is done. I just don’t think there are many untouchables in Detroit.” – Max Bultman, The Athletic