Oilers at Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks have played the spoiler role well the last two games and look to continue their strong play when the Edmonton Oilers pay a visit Thursday for the first of two meetings between the non-playoff teams before the season ends. The Canucks are 3-1-0 in their last four games, including a pair of 4-1 victories against playoff hopefuls Dallas and Anaheim in the past two outings.
“It’s tough when you’re not playing meaningful games, but at the same time for us they are meaningful in a way,” Vancouver center Brandon Sutter told reporters after notching two goals and an assist against Anaheim on Tuesday. “We didn’t like the way we finished last season. … and this has a completely different feel. It’s something to get excited about.” The Canucks expect to have recently signed forward Adam Gaudette in the lineup for his NHL debut against Edmonton, which has dropped two straight while allowing 12 total goals. The Oilers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period Tuesday before suffering a 7-3 loss to Columbus at home despite three more points from red-hot captain Connor McDavid. “We had the good start and then the game just went right back to where we were at during the start of the year,” McDavid told reporters. “It’s disappointing.”
TV: 10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet Pacific
ABOUT THE OILERS (34-37-6): McDavid is starting to pull away in his quest for a second straight Art Ross Trophy, reaching a career-high 102 points after posting six goals and seven assists during a five-game point streak. Center Leon Draisaitl is two from his second straight 70-point season and McDavid’s new linemate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins boasts two goals and five assists in the past five contests. Edmonton has given up the third-most goals in the league this season (249) after allowing 207 in 2016-17 - the eighth least in the NHL.
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (28-40-9): Gaudette, a forward who led the NCAA in goals (30) and points (60) while being named Hockey East Player of the Year for Northeastern, adds another young player with offensive talent to the mix for Vancouver. Gaudette was picked in the fifth round in 2015 and has scored 56 times in the last two seasons, taking the Huskies to the NCAA Tournament last weekend before signing Monday. Goalie Jacob Markstrom has allowed only four goals in winning his last three starts to reach 20 victories (21) for the first time in his career.
OVERTIME
1. McDavid joined a group including Wayne Gretzky, Dale Hawerchuk, Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, Joe Sakic and Jimmy Carson with multiple 100-point seasons before their 22nd birthday.
2. Vancouver captain C Henrik Sedin has a goal and three assists over the last four games and sits three points from his 12th straight full season with at least 50.
3. The Oilers are 7-1-2 in the last 10 meetings, but the Canucks won 3-2 in Vancouver on Oct. 7 with two goals from F Bo Horvat.