The Vancouver Canucks have just one recreation remaining on their preseason schedule, and it’s towards the identical Edmonton Oilers they confronted on Monday (Sept. 30) after they misplaced in a shootout. Besides, this time, they may characteristic a near-opening night time lineup with the strains head coach Rick Tocchet will doubtless deploy towards the Calgary Flames on Oct. 9 of their house opener at Rogers Enviornment. The Oilers will do the identical with their roster, and consequently, followers might be handled to a regular-season environment for the primary time because the Oilers ended the Canucks’ season in Could.
Setting the Stage – Oilers (3-4-0) vs. Canucks (2-2-1)
The Canucks are coming off that aforementioned 3-2 shootout loss to the Oilers after they dressed a mostly-American Hockey League lineup. The undermanned roster competed arduous and saved the sport aggressive when most individuals thought they had been going to get steamrolled by the likes of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and firm. They finally fell within the shootout after Viktor Arvidsson gained it with a slick deke to the backhand, roofing it behind Kevin Lankinen. The Oilers, in the meantime, misplaced to the Seattle Kraken 6-2 on Wednesday (Oct. 2) and might be trying to bounce again of their closing tuneup earlier than they open their season towards the Winnipeg Jets at house on Oct. 9.
Canucks Projected Lineup
Oilers Projected Lineup
Storylines to Watch
Debut of Heinen-Miller-Boeser as Miller Performs First Preseason Recreation
The Canucks have performed practically each seemingly wholesome veteran this preseason – apart from J.T. Miller. The crew had not come out and mentioned that he was injured, however Miller offered a little bit of readability on that entrance in his media availability on Tuesday (Oct. 1) saying, “The variety of video games I need to play isn’t the problem right here. Sadly, it’s robust for the opposite guys, however I needed to handle myself and never push it so I’d be prepared for Friday’s recreation. I used to be involved that if I performed earlier, I may need aggravated one thing and made it worse, which we didn’t want. I’ll be able to go on Friday.”
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It’s comprehensible why Miller didn’t need to play, contemplating the variety of severe accidents which were seen within the NHL currently. From Drew Doughty in LA to Patrik Laine and David Reinbacher in Montreal, there’s been no scarcity of long-term accidents to key gamers. The Canucks want Miller to be the 103-point participant he was final season – and possibly much more – in 2024-25. Meaning he wants to remain wholesome and close to one hundred pc all season lengthy. If meaning lacking nearly the whole preseason of meaningless video games, so be it.
Miller is motivated to be a higher general participant this season, too, saying “I don’t need my ceiling to be based mostly on factors. I’ll play a fair higher 200-foot recreation this 12 months and have 20 much less factors. That’s not a failure to me. I need to be a extremely good 200-foot participant within the league, and that doesn’t change.”
Miller may have his long-time working mate, Brock Boeser, alongside him once more this season, however they are going to be joined by a newcomer in Danton Heinen. They’ve been collectively because the starting of coaching camp however will play for the primary time within the preseason tonight. Judging by what now we have seen in apply and scrimmages, they might be a superb trio with Heinen offering pace and tenacity on the forecheck to liberate area for Miller and Boeser to work their magic.
Talking of latest line mixtures making their debut, Daniel Sprong will get an opportunity to play with Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk tonight. He has not spent any time with them within the preseason to this point, having been deployed with AHLers and gamers who will doubtless begin within the backside six. However with Jonathan Lekkerimaki again in Abbotsford, head coach Rick Tocchet promoted him to the top-six after he was impressed together with his willingness to enhance his general recreation all through the exhibition schedule.
“He’s all the time asking questions. I believe there’s a variety of potential there. If him, Petey and Jake can keep collectively, it might be a rattling good line for us however they’ve acquired to ensure that they play inside they usually give you pucks too.”
Sprong has the skillset and hockey IQ to play with two established top-six gamers in Pettersson and DeBrusk. It’s now as much as him to not solely produce, however play a strong two-way recreation alongside them. He can’t simply be targeted on scoring on a regular basis, however supporting his linemates in all three zones. If he can do this, he might be a 20 and even 30-goal scorer as a result of his deadly shot and general pace.
Silovs Will get Closing Costume Rehearsal to Solidify Begin for Opening Night time
Arturs Silovs and Kevin Lankinen have each began two video games within the preseason to this point and whereas their stats don’t scream beginning goaltender, one in every of them will get the privilege of being within the crease for opening night time with Thatcher Demko nonetheless on the shelf. It stays to be seen who that might be at this level, however Silovs will get the ultimate likelihood to show to the teaching employees that it ought to be him. His final recreation was towards the Flames on Sept. 28 when he allowed 4 objectives on 24 pictures – many from long-range by means of screens – and completed the sport on the bench in what ended as a 4-2 loss.
If Silovs has his sights on usurping Lankinen when Demko returns, he must enhance his puck monitoring by means of site visitors. He struggled with this even within the playoffs towards the Oilers, and it ought to be a spotlight of latest goaltending coach Marko Torenius this season if he ever needs his pupil to develop into a constant starter within the NHL. We are going to see how he does towards the crew that he noticed a variety of when he began all seven video games of their second spherical collection in Could.
Gameday Burning Query: Will Raty Beat Blueger For the Third-Line Centre Spot?
The burning query going into this recreation is whether or not Aatu Raty can show to Tocchet that it ought to be him that facilities Nils Hoglander and Conor Garland on opening night time somewhat than the now-healthy Teddy Blueger. Blueger has not been seen in a preseason recreation but as he has been recovering from minor surgical procedure to restore a lower-body problem. Tocchet has flip-flopped between Blueger and Raty over the past two practices, and settled with Raty once more within the morning skate immediately.
Raty has been spectacular throughout the preseason centering the 2 buzzsaws, and has given the teaching employees some pause as to who ought to be the third-line centre to begin the season. Blueger has expertise enjoying with Garland, however Raty has additionally developed some good chemistry with him, wanting eerily like Dakota Joshua when he scored his solely purpose of the exhibition to this point, potting a shot behind Flames goalie Dan Vladar after a no-look cross from Garland. We are going to see if that trio can wow us once more and stay collectively for the season opener subsequent week.
What’s Subsequent for the Canucks?
The Canucks may have a couple of days off earlier than their house opener towards the Flames on Oct. 9 when eight different groups might be in motion to begin the season. As for tonight, followers can see the motion on Sportsnet and pay attention on Sportsnet 650 beginning at 7 pm Pacific. Will they roll into the season with a victory or their fourth-straight loss? Keep tuned.
