GAME PREVIEW: Game 21/56 Edmonton Oilers @ Vancouver Canucks

Edmonton Oilers (12-8-0, 2nd in North) vs.

Vancouver Canucks (8-12-2, 6th in North)

23 February 2021

Rogers Arena

8 PM MST

TV: Sportsnet

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: Nucks Misconduct

EXTINGUISHED

Did you see the Oilers put a 7-1 drubbing on the Calgary Flames this past Saturday night? Connor McDavid had three goals and two assists, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins picked up a pair, and both Josh Archibald and Alex Chiasson joined in with one each. Mikko Koskinen picked up a win with a 43 save performance, the Oilers scored often and the Calgary Flames were rudderless in the loss. The Oilers are now four games above .500. They’ll look to make it five tonight with a visit to Vancouver.

Can the Oilers keep pouring it on?

Let’s go to the tape.

THE OILERS ARE SAYING

To be able to win both and in regulation, it’s big for us...But it’s still early on in the year, there’s lots of hockey left. We’re playing well and we need to keep winning games

Source

That’s Oilers captain Connor McDavid on winning two games in two nights against Calgary.

Want to control your own destiny? Win games. The Oilers took two wins in two games versus Calgary and have a cushy 9-2 record after starting 3-6. Win all the games.

THE CANUCKS ARE SAYING

“It’s strong of us to come back and tie the game, but we had a lead going into the third,” We had the game in our hands and we kind of let it go.”

Source

That’s Canucks forward Elias Pettersson on his club’s 4-3 OT loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday.

It looked like the Canucks had turned things around in late January when they rattled off four straight wins to end the month of January. Since February began, they are 2-7-2 and are three points out of fourth place despite playing five more games than fourth place Montréal.

HAVE SOME OF THIS

• Slater Koekkoek is out for what looks to be the rest of the regular season with a broken collarbone. Koekkkoek sustained the break after a collision with Flames forward Sam Bennett early in Saturday’s game. If Koekkoek’s absence (and with William Lagesson still not ready to go in) doesn’t get Caleb Jones back into the lineup, I don’t know what will.
• OK YAM: Kailer Yamamoto took an ugly hit from behind by Elias Lindholm on Saturday and didn’t return to the game. Word is that he was held out for precautionary reasons and could go tonight.
• MAGNIFICENCE: Can you believe that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl actually went two whole games without registering a point? McDavid filled the tank by popping off for a five point night on Saturday (3-2-5). Leon put up two assists but did not register a shot on goal. McDavid is back projecting to exceed the 100 point mark in 56 games after Saturday’s outburst. Continue on as normal.
• NET GAINS: I’ve got Mike Smith (4-0-0, .940 SV% / 1.83) in tonight. Mikko Koskinen turned aside 43 of 44 shots (7-8-0, .901 SV% / 3.26 GAA) en route to the W against Calgary on Saturday night, and could start Thursday for Edmonton’s second game in Vancouver.
• If you haven’t gotten a chance to check out Sunil’s latest piece, it’s all about secondary scoring for the Oilers. Edmonton tends to do better in games where they’re getting goal support from the bottom two lines, and they’ve been getting some relief in the last ten. It’s nice not having to scream about secondary scoring when you’re getting chances all over.
• PREMIUIM GOAL CONTENT: Vancouver has straight up not been having a good time this month. They’ve won just two games out of eleven, They’re averaging 2.27 goals a game over that period, which isn’t any good. Edmonton has been averaging 3.78 goals per game, a number we would all like to see continue tonight.
• SCRATCHES: We’ll find out more about Ethan Bear’s status today. Zack Kassian (hand) is week-to-week, while William Lagesson (upper body) is still day-to-day. Slater Koekkoek (collarbone) is out for a lengthy period. For Vancouver, forwards Justin Bailey, Tyler Motte and defenceman Travis Hamonic are all day-to-day.