Goalie Jacob Markstrom will start for Vancouver, which has lost two straight and is 3-7-2 in its past 12 games. Mike Smith will start for Edmonton, which is 6-3-1 in its past 10 games and is playing its first game at home after a five-game road trip (3-2-0). Edmonton is in first in the Pacific Division, one point ahead of the Arizona Coyotes and seven ahead of Vancouver, which is in fifth place.
Players to watch
Canucks center Elias Pettersson has six points (three goals, three assists) in his past four games. He leads Vancouver with 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 26 games. Oilers center Connor McDavid had an 11-game point streak (12 goals, 12 assists) end in a 4-1 loss at the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday. He is second in NHL scoring with 47 points (18 goals, 29 assists), one point behind teammate Leon Draisaitl (48 points; 16 goals, 32 assists).
They said it
"This is a big game. It's an easy game for both teams to get up for. We look forward to this divisional matchup. I think both teams are going to be itching to play this game tonight." -- Canucks forward J.T. Miller "He's a guy that has a great shot and he gets available to shoot. That said, you have to play him pretty tight, but elite players, they find open ice."-- Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse on Canucks center Elias Pettersson
Beagle has missed the past three games and is not expected to play. … Benn will play in his 500th NHL game. ... Chiasson will play after leaving the game Wednesday with a jaw injury. … Granlund, who signed a one-year contract on July 1, will play his first game for Edmonton against Vancouver, where he played the previous four seasons.
Stat pack
Miller has six points (four goals, two assists) in a four-game point streak. … Hughes has nine assists in his past six games. … Draisaitl has 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) in his past 17 games.
