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Game 82 Preview: Edmonton Oilers @ Vancouver Canucks

Oilers soundly defeat Canucks to close out their old barn, look to make it two in a row to finish season on a positive note

By Jeff Chapman
Darnell Nurse is available for tonight's game after taking a puck to the throat against Vancouver on Wednesday.
Darnell Nurse is available for tonight's game after taking a puck to the throat against Vancouver on Wednesday.
Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports


Edmonton

@
Vancouver
31-43-7, 69 points, .838 p/g Ranks 30-37-13, 73 points,  .924 p/g
Pacific Division - 7th Pacific Division - 5th
30th Points per Game 26th
21st Special Teams 18th
22nd Shots per Game 28th
21st Goal 26th
8:00 PM MDT
TV - CBC
Radio - 630 CHED
Rogers Arena
The opposing view:  Nucks Misconduct

Oilers Close Out Rexall With Convincing Win

After an embarrassing loss to the Flames, the Oilers responded with a convincing  6-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday as Rexall Place hosted its final game.  Twenty minutes elapsed in the first period before Nail Yakupov scored his eighth goal of the season.  Patrick Maroon had a goal and Connor McDavid scored on the power play before the second period had concluded, and the Oilers found themselves up 3-0 at the end of the second.  Patrick Maroon would score a second goal, Taylor Hall would hit the score sheet and Leon Draisaitl would score the last goal in the Coliseum's history as the Oilers cruised on to a 6-2 victory over everyone's favourite team from BC.

I can't imagine the Oilers dropping their arena's finale to the Canucks.  I mean, we all could imagine it, it was better for everyone involved that it didn't go down that way.

The Oilers will face off against those very same Vancouver Canucks this evening to close the regular season.  A victory will help propel the Oilers to a finish above 70 points, and a chance to finish 29th on the season (long, sad trombone).  Let's go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying

"It's disappointing we're not in a playoff spot, we're not even close."

Source

That's Oilers forward Taylor Hall on his disappointment for not being near the playoffs, but his hope that a victory will help attitudes entering the offseason.

Trust me Taylor, we know.  We all know.  Ten years out of the playoffs (he's been here for six of them) is probably beginning to eat on you.  This is the offseason where someone gets dealt for a top-flight puck moving defenceman.  It's gotta be.  Next year we get playoffs, oh man, and you'll be there, and there'll be champagne everywhere, some devil's food cake with delicious chocolate frosting, a unicorn, and Rainbow's "Man on the Silver Mountain" will be blasted loudly from some big ass speakers after the 9-1 clinching game against the Calgary Flames in the second week of March.  It's gonna be so sweet, Taylor.  Just you wait.  I've already got that week off of work.

The opponents are saying

"This is the worst I've ever been a part of since I've been here...It hasn't been very fun."  SSource

That's Canucks forward Jannik Hansen on Vancouver's season so far.  There's still time, you guys!

MISERY LOVES COMPANY
Normally I don't wish this level of frustration on anyone else, but I take a little satisfaction knowing that Jannik Hansen isn't having the best time of his life in Vancouver after their season.  Have some of this, Hansen.

Have some of this

  • Is there a better rookie in the NHL this season?
  • Darnell Nurse took a puck to the throat in the first period in Wednesday's game in Edmonton.  Almost incredibly, he's ready for tonight.
  • Cam Talbot will have a chance to pick up his 22nd win on the year (21-27-4,.917 SV% / 2.55 GAA / 3 SO), he'll be the man between the pipes for the Oilers.. Ryan Miller (17-24-9, .916 SV% / 2.70 GAA / 1 SO) is likely for Vancouver tonight.
  • Andrew Ference (hip), Brandon Davidson (knee), Eric Gryba (knee), Benoit Pouliot (shoulder) and Oscar Klefbom (leg), are out for the Oilers, .Pouliot practiced this week, but he's not likely for tonight.  The Canucks will be without Linden Vey (upper body), Sven Baertschi (lower body), Chris Higgins (lower body), Radim Vrbata (lower body), Luca Sbisa (upper body), Alexander Edler (ankle), and Brandon Sutter (face).
  • LAST GAME OF THE YEAR - This is my third full year here at Copper and Blue.  One of the most rewarding things about being a part of this team and a member of the SB Nation Network is that I get to interact with all of you beautiful sober (at least, before the game) people on the wide world of the internet.  It's been another long season, and I've had the pleasure of putting together 77 of the 82 pregames this year.  I hope next year I'm able to do this long into May (or at least, until the third week of April).  Thanks for reading, and remember, our Super Bowl comes in just three weeks.

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