Vancouver Canucks (28-40-9), (7th, Pacific)

Edmonton Oilers (34-37-6) (6th, Pacific)

8 PM MT

Rogers Arena

TV: Sportsnet One

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent:Nucks Misconduct

BREAKDOWN:

Fan Appreciation Night was a grand old time for about the first ten minutes. The Oilers sprung out to a 3-0 lead before yielding the next seven goals to Columbus. The good part? Connor McDavid scored his 100th, 101st and 102nd points on the season. He’s clearly the most valuable Oiler. The Most Valuable Oiler and the rest of the Oilers are in Vancouver tonight to take on the Canucks, where it’s quite possible that the Most Valuable Oiler will add to his already impressive point total.

Let’s go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying

“We just got up three and stopped playing hard. We gave them a lot. They kind of took over the game and didn’t show much push back. Disappointing to be up three (goals) and have seven unanswered.”

Source

That’s Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on giving up a three goal lead to allow seven unanswered goals.

Ah yes. The three goal lead, worst in hockey they say. Thomas Vanek had a hat trick and Sergei Bobrovsky got it screwed on tight for the final 50 minutes. The Jackets are atop the Metro division.

The Canucks are saying

“We have to continue playing the right way for 60 minutes, and when we do that we can play with the top teams”

Source

That’s Canucks defenceman Alex Biega after Vancouver’s 4-1 victory over the Ducks on Tuesday.

The loss knocked Anaheim out of third place in the Pacific.

Have some of this

• You’re going to hear a lot of opinions that are wrong about who is supposed to receive the Hart Trophy this year. There is only one right answer.
• Speaking of the right answer, Connor McDavid is chilling at 102 total points this season. There’s always a good chance he could add to that total at any moment. The question now is - how many can he score this season? 107? 110? More? He’s got five more games including tonight. 115? 200?
• STREAKS: After losing seven straight, the Canucks have won three in their last four.
• NUMBERS, ETC: Vancouver ranks 27th in goals per game with an average of 2.61. They also rank 27th overall in goals allowed (3.18). They’re humming along on the power play, averaging 10th overall (21.6%), but their PK ranks 21st overall with a 78.7% success rate.
• Expect Cam Talbot to start tonight for the Oilers. (29-28-3, .907 SV%, 3.04 GAA). Jacob Markstrom (21-26-6, .912 SV% / 2.72 GAA / 2 SO) is likely to go for the Canucks tonight.
• It’s unclear what exactly Vancouver is out to accomplish next year. They re-signed Eric Gudbranson to a three year deal, the Sedins will probably be back next year. I’m not sure what this team is trying to do in 2018-19? What is this team’s next move? How do they get better?
• SICK BAY: Michael Cammalleri and Al Montoya (undisclosed) are day-to-day. Oscar Klefbom (shoulder) is out for the season. Vancouver will be without Brock Boeser (back), Loui Eriksson (ribs), Sven Baertschi (shoulder), Eric Gudbranson (shoulder), Ben Hutton (foot), and Markus Granlund (ankle) Oh, and Brendan Leipsic (upper body) is questionable. I think that’s about it.