Oilers vs. Canucks: Game Day Centre
Friday, 12.10.2007 / 3:49 PM
/ Boston Pizza Game Preview
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VANCOUVER CANUCKS (1-2-0) at
EDMONTON OILERS (2-2-0)
Start Time: 7:08 p.m. MDT
Television: Rogers Sportsnet West
Radio: 630 CHED, Oilers Radio Network and online at edmontonoilers.com.
After playing their first three games of the season outside their division, the Edmonton Oilers continue a stretch of three consecutive match-ups within the Northwest Division. Tonight and tomorrow night their opponent will be the Vancouver Canucks.
Last season, the Canucks came out of nowhere to win the division but so far this year they’ve had their share of struggles. In their first three games, they lost twice and won in overtime against the Calgary Flames after blowing a two-goal lead. In their last game, the Canucks were hammered 8-2 by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Edmonton came flying out of the gate to start the year with two straight wins at home but lost on the road Monday in Detroit and Wednesday in Minnesota. They attempt to get back on track this evening.
Tonight is the first of eight meetings this season between Edmonton and Vancouver. Last year, Vancouver won six of the eight meetings between the clubs.
Just The Facts...
In-Depth
PATIENCE THE KEY FOR POWER PLAY - So far through four games, the Oilers are one of five teams who have not yet registered a power play goal this season. So is it time to panic? Head Coach Craig MacTavish says in fact the opposite is true. ...more
News Update
FERNANDO PISANI SPEAKS - Oilers winger Fernando Pisani, currently out of the lineup indefinitely with Ulcerative Colitis, was at Rexall Place on Friday morning where he spoke with the media about his condition and outlook. ...more
The Answers
Thursday's Comments from... Pre-Game Comments...
Item of the Game
Tonight's item is an Oilers Kids Charged Hood (Reg: $34.99, Now $19.99).
The Numbers
From the Fans
The Other Side
Canucks Report - Ryan Kesler responds to the hit by Jesse Boulerice and Ryan Shannon heads to Winnipeg. ...more
Weaver 2.0 - He’s only 5’9” and weighs just 182 pounds, but Mike Weaver likely leads the National Hockey League in hits. But it's not the thunderous open-ice variety nor the kind where he rides his man off the puck and into the boards. ...more
Something to Talk About - While everyone's talking about the hit on Ryan Kesler or the score of Wednesday night’s 8-2 Canucks loss to Philadelphia, there's something good to take out of the game that other teams envy. ...more
Odds and Ends
Audio tour of the new Oilers dressing room - Oilers Equipment Manager Barrie Stafford takes fans on an audio tour of the Oilers dressing room in this feature produced by Dan Tencer of 630 CHED. ...more
Oilers October Wallpapers - Always know when the Oilers are playing. Download your October wallpaper today. More Oilers wallpapers will be coming soon. ...view wallpapers.
EDMONTON OILERS (2-2-0)
Start Time: 7:08 p.m. MDT
Television: Rogers Sportsnet West
Radio: 630 CHED, Oilers Radio Network and online at edmontonoilers.com.
After playing their first three games of the season outside their division, the Edmonton Oilers continue a stretch of three consecutive match-ups within the Northwest Division. Tonight and tomorrow night their opponent will be the Vancouver Canucks.
Last season, the Canucks came out of nowhere to win the division but so far this year they’ve had their share of struggles. In their first three games, they lost twice and won in overtime against the Calgary Flames after blowing a two-goal lead. In their last game, the Canucks were hammered 8-2 by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Edmonton came flying out of the gate to start the year with two straight wins at home but lost on the road Monday in Detroit and Wednesday in Minnesota. They attempt to get back on track this evening.
Tonight is the first of eight meetings this season between Edmonton and Vancouver. Last year, Vancouver won six of the eight meetings between the clubs.
Just The Facts...
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OILERS TO WATCH: Four different Oilers are tied for the team lead in points. Shawn Horcoff, Kyle Brodziak, Andrew Cogliano and Ales Hemsky all have three points through the team’s first four games. After being a healthy scratch on Wednesday night, Sam Gagner is likely to be reinserted into the lineup tonight and after seeing a game from up top the 18 year old should be dangerous offensively… Sheldon Souray is yet to score a goal this season for the Oilers but leads the team in shots on goal with 15.
CANUCKS TO WATCH: Daniel and Henrik Sedin are in the now-familiar position atop Vancouver’s scoring list. Daniel leads the team with four points - one goal - in three games while Henrik has three points – all assists… Markus Naslund has struggled to start the year with one goal, two points and a minus-six rating through three games but he has always played well against the Oilers. Last season, Naslund was third on the Canucks with seven points in eight games… Another player who has struggled is goaltender Roberto Luongo. He has a 4.23 goals-against average and .863 save percentage. He was pulled from Wednesday’s 8-2 loss versus Philadelphia after allowing four goals on 13 shots.
ROSTER UPDATES: Edmonton – Ethan Moreau (ankle) is still out and may be a ways off. Mathieu Roy (concussion) is out. Shawn Horcoff didn't skate Thursday but should play tonight; Vancouver – Ryan Kesler (head injury) is questionable. Alex Edler (wrist) is questionable. Sami Salo (wrist) is out. Vancouver's leading scorer Ryan Shannon had been dispatched to Manitoba of the AHL, likely due to his -7 rating.
FAST FACTS: Andrew Cogliano had a three-game scoring streak snapped with Wednesday’s 2-0 loss in Minnesota. He had at least a point in each of his first three career NHL games… Raffi Torres led the Oilers with six points and three goals in eight games versus the Canucks in 06-07. Shawn Horcoff also had three goals… On the Canucks side, Daniel Sedin had a whopping seven goals and 13 points in eight games while brother Henrik had 11 points… Edmonton’s power play has not yet connected this season, going 0-for-16. By contrast, Vancouver’s power play has been quite good – particularly on the road. Away from GM Place, the Canucks have connected on 50.0% of their power play chances (4-for-8). Overall, the Canucks power play is second best in the League at 28.6%.
CANUCKS TO WATCH: Daniel and Henrik Sedin are in the now-familiar position atop Vancouver’s scoring list. Daniel leads the team with four points - one goal - in three games while Henrik has three points – all assists… Markus Naslund has struggled to start the year with one goal, two points and a minus-six rating through three games but he has always played well against the Oilers. Last season, Naslund was third on the Canucks with seven points in eight games… Another player who has struggled is goaltender Roberto Luongo. He has a 4.23 goals-against average and .863 save percentage. He was pulled from Wednesday’s 8-2 loss versus Philadelphia after allowing four goals on 13 shots.
ROSTER UPDATES: Edmonton – Ethan Moreau (ankle) is still out and may be a ways off. Mathieu Roy (concussion) is out. Shawn Horcoff didn't skate Thursday but should play tonight; Vancouver – Ryan Kesler (head injury) is questionable. Alex Edler (wrist) is questionable. Sami Salo (wrist) is out. Vancouver's leading scorer Ryan Shannon had been dispatched to Manitoba of the AHL, likely due to his -7 rating.
FAST FACTS: Andrew Cogliano had a three-game scoring streak snapped with Wednesday’s 2-0 loss in Minnesota. He had at least a point in each of his first three career NHL games… Raffi Torres led the Oilers with six points and three goals in eight games versus the Canucks in 06-07. Shawn Horcoff also had three goals… On the Canucks side, Daniel Sedin had a whopping seven goals and 13 points in eight games while brother Henrik had 11 points… Edmonton’s power play has not yet connected this season, going 0-for-16. By contrast, Vancouver’s power play has been quite good – particularly on the road. Away from GM Place, the Canucks have connected on 50.0% of their power play chances (4-for-8). Overall, the Canucks power play is second best in the League at 28.6%.
In-Depth
PATIENCE THE KEY FOR POWER PLAY - So far through four games, the Oilers are one of five teams who have not yet registered a power play goal this season. So is it time to panic? Head Coach Craig MacTavish says in fact the opposite is true. ...more
News Update
FERNANDO PISANI SPEAKS - Oilers winger Fernando Pisani, currently out of the lineup indefinitely with Ulcerative Colitis, was at Rexall Place on Friday morning where he spoke with the media about his condition and outlook. ...more
The Answers
Thursday's Comments from... Pre-Game Comments...
Item of the Game
Tonight's item is an Oilers Kids Charged Hood (Reg: $34.99, Now $19.99).
The Numbers
From the Fans
The Other Side
Canucks Report - Ryan Kesler responds to the hit by Jesse Boulerice and Ryan Shannon heads to Winnipeg. ...more
Weaver 2.0 - He’s only 5’9” and weighs just 182 pounds, but Mike Weaver likely leads the National Hockey League in hits. But it's not the thunderous open-ice variety nor the kind where he rides his man off the puck and into the boards. ...more
Something to Talk About - While everyone's talking about the hit on Ryan Kesler or the score of Wednesday night’s 8-2 Canucks loss to Philadelphia, there's something good to take out of the game that other teams envy. ...more
Odds and Ends
Audio tour of the new Oilers dressing room - Oilers Equipment Manager Barrie Stafford takes fans on an audio tour of the Oilers dressing room in this feature produced by Dan Tencer of 630 CHED. ...more
Oilers October Wallpapers - Always know when the Oilers are playing. Download your October wallpaper today. More Oilers wallpapers will be coming soon. ...view wallpapers.
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