PREVIEW | Canucks at Oilers
MATCH-UP INFO
LAST MEETING - MAY 15/21: VAN 4 at EDM 1
Bo Horvat tied the game with a shorthanded marker at 1:27 in the second period, assisted by Tanner Pearson...Matthew Highmore scored his second goal in as many games to put Vancouver on top at 9:13 in the third period...J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes collected the assists...Travis Boyd scored just 16 seconds later to extend Vancouver's lead to two goals...Matthew Highmore tallied once more at 13:27 in the third period to register his first career multi-point and multi-goal game...Brock Boeser and J.T. Miller recorded the assists on the play...Quinn Hughes and Jack Rathbone registered a team- high in shots (5)...Zack MacEwen led all Canucks in hits (3)...Thatcher Demko made 31 saves.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
• Alex Chiasson signed to a one-year contract, Oct. 12
• Zack MacEwen designated for assignment to Abbotsford, Oct. 12
• Juho Lammikko and Noah Juulsen acquired from Florida in exchange for Olli Juolevi, Oct. 10
• Justin Bailey, Madison Bowey, Phillip Di Giuseppe, and Travis Hamonic designated for assignment to Abbotsford, Oct. 10 • Carson Focht and William Lockwood loaned to Abbotsford, Oct. 9
ROAD TRIPPIN'
The Canucks begin their 2021.22 season by embarking on a six-game road trip from Oct. 13-23, marking the club's longest road trip to start a season in franchise history. It is Vancouver's longest road trip to start a season since a four-game road trip to start the 2006.07 campaign (2-1-1 record).
FAMILIAR TERRITORY
Tonight's contest marks the 25th time that the Canucks have played a game in Edmonton since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and NHL pause in March 2020. Of the 24 games already played, five have been regular season games vs the Oilers (2020.21 regular season), 17 have been playoff games (2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs vs. MIN, STL, VGK), and two have been exhibition games (vs WPG &EDM).
EDMONTON TIES
New Canucks Alex Chiasson and Brad Hunt both formerly played for the Edmonton Oilers. Chiasson spent the last three seasons in Edmonton (2018- 2021), collecting 78 points (42-36-78) in 183 regular season games, including 35 points on the power play (19-16-35). Brad Hunt began his NHL career with Edmonton during the 2013.14 season and played 21 games in an Oilers uniform over the next three seasons (2013-2016), recording three points (1-2-3) and two penalty minutes.
NEW FACES IN 2021.22
Heading into the 2021.22 season, a total of 12 players on the Opening Night roster are slated to make their Canucks debut.
• Kyle Burroughs signed a two-year, two-way contract as a free agent on July 28. Burroughs, 26, split the 2020.21 season playing five games with the Colorado Avalanche (0-1-1) and 11 games with the AHL Colorado Eagles (1-3-4).
• Alex Chiasson signed a PTO on September 22 before signing a one-year contract on October 12. A key power play contributor for the Oilers,Chiasson ranked fourth on the team in power play goals (5) and tied for fifth in power play points (7) last season.
• Jason Dickinson was acquired from the Dallas Stars in exchange for a 2021 third-round draft pick on July 17. Dickinson, 26, appeared in 51 games with the Stars in 2020.21, registering 7 goals and 8 assists (7-8-15).
• Justin Dowling signed as a free agent on July 28. Dowling, 30, played in 27 games last season for the Dallas Stars, recording five points (1-4-5). Prior to joining Dallas, Dowling was captain of the AHL's Texas Stars in 2018.19.
• Oliver Ekman-Larsson was acquired from the Arizona Coyotes alongside Conor Garland on July 23. A two-time NHL All-Star, Ekman-Larsson recorded 24 points (3-21-24) in 46 games with the Coyotes in 2020.21, his third season as team captain. In 769 career regular season games with Arizona, he has registered 388 points (128-260-388).
• Conor Garland was acquired from the Arizona Coyotes alongside Oliver Ekman-Larsson on July 23. The 25-year-old winger posted 39 points (12-27-39) in 49 games with Arizona last season, leading the team in assists (27) and ranking third in points (39).
• Jaroslav Halák signed as a free agent on July 28. The two-time winner of the William M. Jennings Trophy (2012, 2020) appeared in 19 games for the Bruins last season, posting a 9-6-4 record to go along with a 2.53 goals-against average and .905 save percentage.
• Brad Hunt signed as a free agent on July 28. A native of Maple Ridge, BC, Hunt has appeared in 191 career games with Edmonton, St. Louis, Nashville, Vegas and Minnesota, accumulating 59 points (19-40-59) and 28 penalty minutes.
• Juho Lammikko was acquired from the Florida Panthers alongside Noah Juulsen on October 10. Lammikko, 25, appeared in 44 games with the Panthers last season, collecting five points (4-1-5) and 10 penalty minutes.
• Nic Petan signed a two-way deal as a free agent on July 28. The Delta, BC native appeared in seven games with the Leafs last season, registering one point (0-1-1) and four penalty minutes and 14 games with the Marlies recording 15 points (7-8-15) and six penalty minutes.
• Vasily Podkolzin signed a three-year entry level contract on May 30. Podkolzin appeared in 35 games with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League last season, recording 11 points (5-6-11) and 15 penalty minutes. He also led the club in scoring with 11 points (6-5-11) in 16 playoff games and finished t-7th in KHL playoff scoring.
• Tucker Poolman signed a four-year deal as a free agent on July 28. Last season, Poolman averaged a career-high of 18:18 TOI, including 1:19 on the penalty kill. The 6'4", 215-pound defenceman has appeared in 120 career games, collecting 19 points (5-14-19) and 26 penalty minutes.
