10:07 pm
March 13

Oilers @ Canucks

Who will WIN this matchup?

Edmonton Oilers (18-11-0)

@ Vancouver Canucks (12-16-2)

 

Starting Goalies:

Mikko Koskinen (EDM): Confirmed

Thatcher Demko (VAN): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

Edmonton Oilers: (-130)

Vancouver Canucks: (+110)

 

• Facing the Edmonton Oilers is hard enough at full strength. Now, the Vancouver Canucks have a litany of injury woes to worry about as they ready to host the high-octane Oilers on Saturday night. With forwards Tyler Motte (high ankle sprain), Justin Bailey (separated shoulder) and Elias Pettersson (upper-body injury) already sidelined, the Canucks have another trio of forwards nursing issues. Brandon Sutter, Jay Beagle and Antoine Roussel all missed practice on Friday, and coach Travis Green said only “one or two” were likely to play against the Oilers.

• The Canucks have a couple of forwards among the members of their taxi squad, including veteran Loui Eriksson, but their AHL affiliate is in Utica, N.Y., so anyone summoned from the minors would require a quarantine period that would prevent them from playing against the Oilers, who have won three of four meetings with the Canucks this season.

• Regardless of who suits up, the Canucks will look to make amends for a disappointing performance in their most recent outing, a 5-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday that snapped their three-game winning streak. The visiting Canadiens dominated the game.

• Beating the Oilers won’t be easy. Edmonton arrives riding a four-game winning streak, with the latest victory a 6-2 decision over Ottawa on Friday night. Edmonton won all three meetings during a mini-series with the Senators and has claimed seven straight against Ottawa this season.

• Edmonton has won 15 of its past 20 games to move into second place in the North Division. To their credit, the Oilers have dominated the Senators this season, but they know the level of their opposition will increase going forward amid a road-heavy schedule featuring eight of their next 10 away from Edmonton.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Edmonton Oilers
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