Canucks at Oilers
THE STORY: A standing member of the NHL's elite faces a team hoping to get there soon as the Vancouver Canucks tangle with the host Edmonton Oilers in an all-Canadian matchup Saturday night. The clubs have engaged in a bit of a role reversal so far, with the Canucks scuffling to just one win in four games and the Oilers still unbeaten in regulation. Defense has been Vancouver's nemesis to date; after allowing the fewest goals in the NHL last season, the Canucks have been torched for a Western Conference-worst 13 so far. Edmonton has managed to pick up three of a possible four points despite scoring just two regulation goals in the two games. The Oilers could be without veteran forward Ales Hemsky, who injured his surgically-repaired shoulder in Thursday's shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, CBC
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (1-2-1): Part of the Canucks' problem has been an inability to get off to a fast start. After scoring the first goal of the game 49 times in 2010-11, Vancouver has yet to do so in four games this season. The team's top players have done their part to end the struggles, with twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin combining for 10 points and looking as dangerous as ever. In goal, Roberto Luongo has been soundly outplayed by backup Cory Schneider.
ABOUT THE OILERS (1-0-1): Edmonton is one of a handful of teams still looking for its first power-play goal of the season. The Oilers are scoreless in seven chances so far, the fewest of any team in the NHL. The club had the fourth-worst power play in the league last season, but with young guns Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall improving and first overall pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the fold, those struggles shouldn't extend much longer.
OVERTIME:
1. Luongo has been stingy against Edmonton in his career, going 18-9-1-2 with a 2.27 goals-against average and two shutouts in 30 games.
2. Vancouver won four of six meetings between the clubs last season. Edmonton prevailed in the final two encounters, but those games meant little to the Canucks, who has already wrapped up the Presidents' Trophy as the top team in the NHL.
3. The Canucks will miss forward Ryan Kesler, who remains sidelined after undergoing hip surgery. He had three goals and two assists in six games against Edmonton in 2010-11.