The Oilers have been outscored 14-6 the past three games (0-3-0) and a four-game losing streak would match their longest of the season (Nov. 5-11). Mikko Koskinen will start in goal for Edmonton. He is 7-0-1 at Rogers Place. The Canucks are 6-2-1 after going 1-10-2 in their previous 13 games. However, they are 1-2-0 in their past three games. Goalie Jacob Markstrom will start for the fifth time in the past six games for Vancouver.
Players to watch
Canucks center Elias Pettersson has 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in his past 10 games. He leads in NHL rookie scoring with 36 points (17 goals, 19 assists) in 33 games. Oilers captain Connor McDavid has 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in his past nine games. He had three assists Saturday in a 6-3 loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning. On Thursday, McDavid was named captain of the Pacific Division for the 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Game at SAP Center in San Jose on Jan. 26.
They said it
"In the NHL they are the best players in the world and I like to play against the best. Connor is a very good player and I'm looking forward to playing against him." -- Canucks center Elias Pettersson on lining up against Connor McDavid "I think we have to be good on the penalty kill. They had three power-play goals the last game we played against them and that was the difference." -- Oilers defenseman Matt Benning on a 4-2 loss at Vancouver on Dec. 16
Stecher will miss his third game with a concussion, sustained against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec. 18 … Caggiula and Garrison are both out ill … Khaira is serving the second of a two-game suspension for cross-checking St. Louis Blues defenseman Vince Dunn … Russell will miss his sixth game with an undisclosed injury.
Stat pack
Horvat has six points (three goals, three assists) in his past six games … Draisaitl has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in his past eight games … Chiasson has five points (four goals, one assist) in his past five games.
