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Canucks @ Oilers Game 5 Preview

Elusive victory, is tonight the night?

By Jeff Chapman
Yeah, it's Will Acton.
Yeah, it's Will Acton.
Chris LaFrance-USA TODAY Sports


vancouver

@
oilers logo black text
2-0-0, 2 points, 2 p/g Ranks 0-3-1, 1 point, .250 p/g
Western Conference - 9th Western Conference - 14th
3rd P/G 30th
3rd ST 13th
18th ES 30th
17th Goal 30th
7:30 PM MDT - SNW
Rexall Place
The opposing view: Nucks Misconduct


Blood From A Stone

Edmonton scored four goals on Wednesday against the Coyotes.  That's good.  They allowed seven goals to lose the game.  That's bad.  In four games, the Oilers are allowing an average of  five and a half per game, which isn't very encouraging.   Defence isn't good, and goaltending hasn't fared much better.  The Oilers kick off a long home stand tonight looking for their first win of the season.

Ray Ferraro Is Saying

"Would they be better served with a more experienced coach?  They can't be less served...."

That's analyst Ray Ferraro on TSN Radio making merry about Oilers coach Dallas Eakins

Oh boy, we're here.  I'm not going to speculate that this could be 'make it or break it' time for Dallas Eakins, but let's just say that a fairly long home stand is upon us and that winning some games would probably be best for the team.  I can't really think to imagine what you'll be hearing if this team goes another two or three games without a victory.

The Opponent is saying

"It's my decision on who is going to play in goal.  I talk to Rollie (Melanson), but it's my decision in the end"
That's Canucks coach Willie Desjardins on who wears the pants in Vancouver.  At least, who wears the pants when it comes to deciding what goalie plays when.  You don't say, Coach?  YOU get to pick the goaltender?  Next thing you're going to tell me is that you get to pick the lines and who goes where.  Blimey.

Two games in, goaltender Ryan Miller has posted a .889  SV%.  That's not going to win you any awards, but it is only two games in, and when you're winning, it's easier to look the other way if you're allowing four goals against the Oilers.  The Canucks are playing back-to-back games this weekend, so it's a coin-flip as to who starts tonight for them.

Have some of this
  • Martin Marincin is back!  Wait!  He's not.  Yes he is!  Or not.  Or something.  Get him in the lineup already, this isn't rocket science.
  • The Oilers are still throwing the puck on net at a decent clip (averaging 32 shots per game over four), but when you're tailing the league in GAA per game, it's no good.  The Oilers have allowed five and a half goals over four games.  The next worst team (Buffalo) has allowed four and a quarter over the same span.
  • If next five games are anything like the first four have been, do the Oilers seriously keep Leon Draisaitl on the big club?
  • BRUISE CLUES - It's been six days since the Canucks and Oilers last hooked up. It's also been six days since Ryan Nugent-Hopkins fought Dan Hamhuis after Hamhuis' leaping check to RNH's numbers.  It's also been six days since we've seen Ryan Nugent-Hopkins play.  RNH has missed the last two games with 'bruising'.  I wonder if we'll see him today.
  • Once again, projected lines will defer to the afternoon.  Check back later in the day to see if Jeff Petry gets scratched again.

In This Stream

Canucks @ Oilers Game 5 Coverage

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