Canucks Game Day | Canucks at Oilers

CANUCKS AT OILERS PREVIEW

TV: Sportsnet

Radio: Sportsnet 650

MATCH-UP INFO

Tonight marks the first of three meetings between the Canucks and Oilers this season: Oct. 12 (away), Dec. 23 (away), Jan. 21 (home).
The Canucks are 3-4-3 in their last 10 games vs Edmonton (1-1-3 in their last five).
The Canucks have a 108-120-19-15 all-time record in 262 games against the Oilers, including a 48-68-4-8 record on the road.
The Canucks have a 27-18-3-4 record all-time in season openers, including a 9-8-0-2 record when starting the season on the road.
Among active Canucks skaters, Oliver Ekman-Larsson leads the team in career points vs Edmonton with 29 points (12-17-29) in 43 games.
Thatcher Demko is 3-7-1 in his career against Edmonton with a 2.84 GAA and .918 save-percentage.
Spencer Martin is 0-0-2 in his career versus Edmonton with a 2.32 GAA and .940 save-percentage.

LAST MEETING – APRIL 29/22: VAN 2 @ EDM 3 (SO)

J.T. Miller opened the scoring to tie the Canucks’ team-lead in goals (32) and register his 99th point of the season (32-67-99) at 17:31 in the first period…Brad Hunt and Conor Garland registered the assists…Conor Garland notched his 19th goal of the season at 2:35 in the third period to give the Canucks their second lead of the game…Alex Chiasson led the team in shots (6)…Luke Schenn led the team in hits (4) for a team-leading 37th time in 2021.22…Travis Dermott blocked a team-high four shots…Spencer Martin stopped 31 of 33 shots through regulation and overtime.

LAST 5 vs EDMONTON

Apr. 29/22: VAN 2 @ EDM 3 (SO)
Jan. 25/22: VAN 2 vs EDM 3 (OT)
Oct. 30/21: VAN 1 vs EDM 2
Oct. 13/21: VAN 2 @ EDM 3 (SO)
May 15/21: VAN 4 @ EDM 1

CLOSING IN ON 600

Currently holding a career regular season coaching record of 598-317-124, Bruce Boudreau is just two wins shy of becoming the 22nd coach in NHL history and just the fifth active head coach to reach 600 regular season wins. Among coaches with 600 wins to their name, Boudreau’s .635 points percentage would rank second only to Scotty Bowman (.657).

OIL COUNTRY OPENERS

Tonight’s season opener marks the fourth consecutive season that the Canucks have opened the season on the road in Edmonton. The Canucks are 1-1-1 in their three previous season openers vs the Oilers.

ROAD READY

The Canucks begin their 2022.23 season on a five-game road trip from Oct. 12-20, which will match team’s longest road of the season (also Nov. 8-15 and Jan. 8-15). Vancouver also began last season on a season-high six-game road trip, compiling a 3-2-1 record.

NEW FACES IN 2022.23

Heading into the 2022.23 season, a total of seven players on Vancouver’s Opening Day roster (including injured reserve) have yet to make their Canucks debut:

Nils Aman agreed to terms on an entry level contract on June 7 after posting 14 points (6-8-14) and eight penalty minutes in 51 games with Leksands IF of the Swedish Hockey League last season.
Dakota Joshua agreed to terms on a two-year contract on July 13. Joshua appeared in 30 regular season games with the St. Louis Blues last season, notching eight points (3-5-8) and 16 penalty minutes.
Danila Klimovich was drafted by Vancouver in the second round, 41st overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and spent all last season with the club’s AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, recording 18 points (8-10-18) and 33 penalty minutes in 62 games.
Andrei Kuzmenko officially signed with the Canucks on July 13 after announcing his intention to sign with the club in June. Kuzmenko led St. Petersburg SKA (KHL) in scoring last season with 53 points (20-33-53) and a +15 rating in 45 games.
Curtis Lazar agreed to terms on a three-year deal on July 13. Last season, the Salmon Arm, BC native registered 16 points (8-8-16) and 16 penalty minutes in 70 games with the Boston Bruins.
Ilya Mikheyev (IR) signed a four-year contract with Vancouver on July 13. In 2021.22, Mikheyev tallied 32 points (21-11-32) in 53 games with Toronto, setting career-highs in games goals, points, and plus-minus (+16).
Riley Stillman was acquired from Chicago on October 7 in exchange for Jason Dickinson and a 2024 second round pick. Stillman appeared in 52 games last season with the Blackhawks, recording a career-high 12 points (2-10-12) and leading the team in hits per 60 minutes (9.34).