The Vancouver Canucks have just one recreation remaining on their preseason schedule, and it’s in opposition to the identical Edmonton Oilers they confronted on Monday (Sept. 30) after they misplaced in a shootout. Besides, this time, they are going to function a near-opening evening lineup with the strains head coach Rick Tocchet will possible deploy in opposition to the Calgary Flames on Oct. 9 of their dwelling opener at Rogers Area. The Oilers will do the identical with their roster, and because of this, followers will probably be handled to a regular-season environment for the primary time for the reason that 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 exhausting and stored 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 will probably be seeking to bounce again of their last tuneup earlier than they open their season in opposition to the Winnipeg Jets at dwelling on Oct. 9.
Canucks Projected Lineup
Oilers Projected Lineup
Storylines to Watch
Debut of Heinen-Miller-Boeser as Miller Performs First Preseason Sport
The Canucks have performed practically each seemingly wholesome veteran this preseason – aside from J.T. Miller. The workforce 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 deal with 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 might 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 these days. 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 100% 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 could play an excellent higher 200-foot recreation this yr and have 20 much less factors. That’s not a failure to me. I need to be a very good 200-foot participant within the league, and that doesn’t change.”
Miller can have his long-time operating 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 for the reason that starting of coaching camp however will play for the primary time within the preseason tonight. Judging by what we now have seen in apply and scrimmages, they may very well be a great trio with Heinen offering velocity and tenacity on the forecheck to unlock 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 thus far, having been deployed with AHLers and gamers who will possible 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 along with his willingness to enhance his general recreation all through the exhibition schedule.
“He’s at all times asking questions. I believe there’s a variety of potential there. If him, Petey and Jake can keep collectively, it may very well be a rattling good line for us however they’ve acquired to make it possible for they play inside they usually provide you with 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 try this, he may very well be a 20 and even 30-goal scorer resulting from his deadly shot and general velocity.
Silovs Will get Ultimate Gown Rehearsal to Solidify Begin for Opening Evening
Arturs Silovs and Kevin Lankinen have each began two video games within the preseason thus far and whereas their stats don’t scream beginning goaltender, certainly one of them will get the privilege of being within the crease for opening evening with Thatcher Demko nonetheless on the shelf. It stays to be seen who that will probably be at this level, however Silovs will get the ultimate probability to show to the teaching employees that it ought to be him. His final recreation was in opposition to the Flames on Sept. 28 when he allowed 4 objectives on 24 pictures – many from long-range via 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 via site visitors. He struggled with this even within the playoffs in opposition to the Oilers, and it ought to be a spotlight of latest goaltending coach Marko Torenius this season if he ever needs his pupil to grow to be a constant starter within the NHL. We’ll see how he does in opposition to the workforce that he noticed a variety of when he began all seven video games of their second spherical sequence 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 evening reasonably 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 situation. Tocchet has flip-flopped between Blueger and Raty during the last two practices, and settled with Raty once more within the morning skate at present.
Raty has been spectacular in the course of 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 start out the season. Blueger has expertise enjoying with Garland, however Raty has additionally developed some good chemistry with him, trying eerily like Dakota Joshua when he scored his solely objective of the exhibition thus far, potting a shot behind Flames goalie Dan Vladar after a no-look move from Garland. We’ll 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 can have just a few days off earlier than their dwelling opener in opposition to the Flames on Oct. 9 when eight different groups will probably be in motion to start out 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.
