Canucks at Oilers
Many believed the Edmonton Oilers would finish far ahead of Vancouver in the Pacific Division standings, but they'll host the Canucks on Saturday nursing a one-point lead over their western Canada rivals. The Zambonis might also be scraping some rust off the ice between periods as both teams are coming off their league-mandated five-day breaks, which Edmonton entered with consecutive victories for only the fourth time this season.
The Oilers were 10 points out of a wild-card spot with five teams to pass entering Friday, but their offense is waking up with seven goals during their two-game winning streak after scoring four in their previous six contests. “I’ve always found you have to simplify things when you’re not scoring,'' Edmonton's Milan Lucic, who hasn't tallied in 10 games, told reporters. "Slinging pucks from the corner. Two on ones and not passing up on a shot. We need some confidence in the scoring areas.” Vancouver also entered the break with two straight victories and could get Bo Horvat (10 goals in 28 games) back in the lineup soon. The Canucks are 4-11-2 without Horvat, who hasn't played since fracturing his foot Dec. 5 but was medically cleared to travel with the team and practiced Friday.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, CBC, Sportsnet
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (18-21-6): Brock Boeser continues his pursuit of the Calder Trophy with team highs of 22 goals and 40 points, but has only one goal and one assist in the last seven games. Henrik Sedin (32 points) has only two goals this season after recording at least 10 for 13 consecutive years. Daniel Sedin (10 goals, 29 points), like his twin brother a minus-10, scored in two of his last three games and has five points during a four-game point streak.
ABOUT THE OILERS (20-23-3): All-Star Connor McDavid has recorded a pair of assists in each of the last two games and leads the team in points (52) and assists (37), and second owns a plus-10 rating. Defenseman Darnell Nurse has scored four goals in the last four games and is a plus-13 while playing a career-high 21 minutes, 24 seconds per game. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who has a team-most 16 goals and is third with 31 points, was placed on injured reserve with a bruised sternum, but may only miss Saturday's game.
OVERTIME
1. Daniel Sedin (back spasms), who did not play in Vancouver's last game Sunday, and Lucic (neck laceration) are questionable to play Saturday.
2. Edmonton, which last played Saturday, is 1-for-19 on the power play over the last eight games while the Canucks are 4-for-13 in their past five contests.
3. Vancouver won the first of four meetings this season 3-2 on Oct. 7 behind two goals from Horvat.