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Real hockey starts in five days, but for one last time we'll have to all settle for a preseason matchup against the division-rival Vancouver Canucks. It will be the second time in three days the two teams have met, as the Canucks visited Rexall Place on Thursday and laid a beatdown on a lacklustre Oilers defensive corps, winning 5-2.
How To Watch
Puck drop: 8:00 PM MST
TV: Sportsnet
Radio: 630 CHED
What To Watch For
Tonight's lineup will be short one Nikita Nikitin as the organization put him on waivers earlier this morning. Bob Stauffer also reports that Andrew Ference probably won't see the ice tonight, and it's unlikely Oscar Klefbom draws back in before Thursday's opener, though he did take part in practice this morning.
What does it all mean? Bubble players like Eric Gryba and Brandon Davidson, who looks to be getting a last-chance evaluation tonight on a pairing with Justin Schultz, have a final opportunity to impress the coaching staff. The Oilers are very close to narrowing down their blueline to start the year and how this group performs tonight will be telling. Unfortunately, as our man Sunil put it...
Has to be another trade coming to get a defenceman. That group doesn't look any better without Nikitin. #oilers https://t.co/ucktYjxLrb
— Sunil Agnihotri (@sunilagni) October 3, 2015
Projected Lines
Pouliot-RNH-Purcell, Hall-McDavid-Slepyshev, Draisaitl-Lander-Yak, Klink-Letestu-Korpikoski, Sekera-Fayne, Davidson-Schultz, Reinhart-Gryba
— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) October 3, 2015
Klefbom taking part in practice. Hendricks is not on the ice this morning
— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) October 3, 2015
There is a chance that Luke Gazdic draws in and Rob Klinkhammer may be out
— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) October 3, 2015