By Andrew Phillip Chernoff | CanucksBanter
October 26, 2025
The Vancouver Canucks host the Edmonton Oilers tonight in a Pacific Division showdown at Rogers Arena, with puck drop set for 7 p.m. PDT. This is a key divisional matchup as both teams aim to build momentum after uneven starts to the season.
Vancouver Canucks (4-5-0) Outlook
Vancouver enters the contest on a 3-game losing streak, having most recently blown a 2–0 lead in a 4–3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.
Conor Garland continues to pace the Canucks in scoring with 9 points and 6 assists, while Elias Pettersson added two helpers in that loss against Montreal for 7 points on the season.
However, the Canucks’ scoring depth is hampered by injuries to forwards Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Teddy Blueger, Nils Höglander, and Filip Chytil.
Vancouver’s power play has struggled at just 16.1% efficiency — 25th in the NHL — and their faceoff percentage is 31st in the league at 42%. The penalty kill is 73.5% for 22nd in the NHL.
Coach Adam Foote has emphasized to his team of staying resilient through a gruelling early-season schedule and an injury stretch at this juncture.
Edmonton Oilers (4-4-1) Preview
The Oilers are coming off a 3–2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, where defensive lapses in transition cost them key goals.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch noted his team has generated strong scoring chances but must tighten up off the rush. Edmonton’s special teams remain a bright spot: their power play has scored in three straight games, led by Evan Bouchard and Darnell Nurse, while Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Mattias Ekholm each carry multi-game point streaks.
Connor McDavid, despite generating over 3.6 expected goals this season, he has struggled to finish, converting only 4.5% of shots — far below his career average of nearly 15% and the league average this season of 12.7% for forwards — and is viewed as due for a breakout game against Vancouver.
Key Stats & Matchup Trends
Expect Vancouver to lean on Thatcher Demko for stability in goal tonight, while Calvin Pickard likely starts for the Oilers.
Special teams and puck management will decide whether the Canucks can halt their multiple game losing streak or if Edmonton’s stars capitalize on defensive lapses and hand Vancouver their fourth consecutive loss en route to the basement of the Pacific Division.
OILERS (4-4-1) at CANUCKS (4-5-0)
07 p.m. PDT; SN1, SNP
Oilers projected lineup
Andrew Mangiapane — Connor McDavid — Jack Roslovic
Vasily Podkolzin — Leon Draisaitl — Matthew Savoie
Adam Henrique — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins — Isaac Howard
Trent Frederic — Noah Philp — David Tomasek
Mattias Ekholm — Evan Bouchard
Darnell Nurse — Jake Walman
Brett Kulak — Ty Emberson
Calvin Pickard
Stuart Skinner
Scratched: Curtis Lazar, Troy Stecher
Injured: Zach Hyman (wrist), Mattias Janmark (undisclosed), Kasperi Kapanen (knee), Alec Regula (undisclosed)
Canucks projected lineup
Jake DeBrusk — Elias Pettersson — Conor Garland
Evander Kane — Lukas Reichel — Brock Boeser
Drew O’Connor — Aatu Raty — Kiefer Sherwood
Arshdeep Bains — Max Sasson — Linus Karlsson
Quinn Hughes — Filip Hronek
Marcus Pettersson — Tyler Myers
Elias Nils Pettersson — Victor Mancini
Thatcher Demko
Kevin Lankinen
Scratched: Kirill Kudryavtsev, Nils Aman, P.O. Joseph
Injured: Filip Chytil (concussion protocol), Jonathan Lekkerimaki (upper body), Teddy Blueger (lower body), Nils Hoglander (lower body), Derek Forbort (undisclosed)
Status report
Neither team held a morning skate. … Pickard is expected to start after Skinner made 20 saves in a 3-2 loss at the Seattle Kraken on Saturday. … Howard started the game in Seattle on the top line but was replaced by Roslovic in the third period. … The only expected change for the Canucks is Demko starting after Lankinen made 20 saves in a 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. … Kudryavtsev, a defenseman, was recalled from Abbotsford of the American Hockey League on Sunday, but there was no indication if he would play. Forward Joseph LaBate was sent to Abbotsford.
Source: nhl.com