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2016-17 Head-to-Head: Oilers vs. Canucks
Oilers/Canucks Stats Comparison
Game Notes: Oilers vs. Canucks
2016-17 Oilers Player Statistics
2016-17 Canucks Player Statistics
2016-17 NHL Standings
GAME DAY VIDEO
OILERS TODAY | Tom Gazzola reports on the key storylines prior to tonight's game
PRE-GAME RAW | Maroon
PRE-GAME RAW | Draisaitl
PRE-GAME RAW | Todd McLellan
FRIDAY'S VIDEOS
THE PANEL | Presented by Sport Chek
PRACTICE | Friday at Rogers Place
PRACTICE RAW | Davidson
PRACTICE RAW | Gryba
PRACTICE RAW | McLellan
FRIDAY'S BLOGS & ARTICLES
Oilers recall Oesterle
BLOG: Sekera remains sidelined
BLOG: Talbot breaking in new gear
Oilers sign Benson
Wells shifting game into high gear
MORE INFORMATION
You can watch tonight's game across Canada on CBC and Sportsnet starting at 8:00 p.m. MST.
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Inside The Oilers Blog

INSIDE THE OILERS

Oesterle recalled, Fayne assigned, Benson signed plus news and notes from Friday's Oilers practice and media availability.
>> READ MORE IN THE INSIDE THE OILERS BLOG

PRE-GAME REPORT

EDMONTON, AB - The Oilers cap off 2016 with a Pacific Division showdown against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Place. Edmonton's last outing was a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. Vancouver bested the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 in overtime Friday night.
The last time the Oilers and Canucks danced, Edmonton cold-shouldered them 2-0 at Rogers Arena on October 28.
There's no discounting the Oil's ability to play toe-to-toe against bigger, heavier squads, as witnessed against the Kings. Head Coach Todd McLellan offered his comments on how Vancouver matches up differently than Los Angeles.
"They aren't as big and as burly as LA, but I think they're as competitive," he said. "They get inside equipment; they compete hard and scrap out wins."
Daniel and Henrik Sedin routinely provide the Oil with problems - Henrik acting the part of a playmaker while Daniel is the finisher. In 88 career contests versus the blue and orange, Henrik has 81 points (17-64-81). After 85 career games, Daniel has 80 (36-44-80).
"We just got to find ways to limit, obviously, the Sedins," said winger Pat Maroon. "They create so much offence and I think everything goes through them. So, we got to find ways to get them off the scoresheet tonight and just attack their goalie and play like we did against LA."
Jacob Markstrom will get the nod in net for Vancouver.
SEKERA OUT, REINFORCEMENTS IN
With a flu bug drifting around the Oilers dressing room, Andrej Sekera will sit out tonight's match. The 30-year-old is feeling the effects, so the squad will keep their same lineup as Thursday.
"He won't play, he's lost a lot of weight and his energy levels low but we're hoping he can build that back up in time to play in Columbus," said McLellan.
Having the bug present also prompted the Oilers to call up defenceman Jordan Oesterle from the Bakersfield Condors - just in case another blueliner goes down.
"The way the flu is going through our team, there's other players on our team with that flu bug and I think we all know in the city what's going on with the flu - we wanted to be safe."
LAST DANCE
The 2016-17 campaign has been good to Edmonton, so far. They're currently tied for second in the Pacific with 44 points, three back of the San Jose Sharks.
In 2016 overall, the team's record is 35-34-11.
One of the game's greatest stars dons blue and orange. Cam Talbot has solidified his stature as an elite - and durable - starter. The team defence has stabilized. There's strength down the middle - and above all - strength in numbers.
So, what's your assessment of 2016, Patrick Maroon?
"Fun," he said. "I think the reasons why we're successful is because the coaching staff believes in us and you believe in the guy beside you and you trust every line," he continued. "So, if one line goes out there you trust the next line to pick that line up and that's so good to see. Goaltending's been strong this year."
The belief, expectation and certainty has the club braced for whatever 2017 brings.
"If you have confidence in this League, if you have swagger in this League and you believe in one another, I think that goes a long way in itself.
"We just got to find ways to keep doing that."
-- Paul Gazzola, edmontonoilers.com

PREVIEW

OILERS (19-12-6) vs. CANUCKS (16-18-3)
TV: 8:00 p.m. MST; Televised on CBC
Head-to-Head:
This game marks the second of five meetings between the Oilers and Canucks this season and the first of three games in Edmonton. The next time these teams will meet is on March 18th in Edmonton.
The last time these teams met was on October 28th in Vancouver, where the Oilers shut out the Canucks 2-0. Connor McDavid and Milan Lucic scored for the Oilers, while Cam Talbot stopped all 26 shots for the shutout.
Oilers team scope:
The Oilers have only two regulation losses in the month of December (7-2-4) and are tied with Anaheim for second in the Pacific Division. They are three points behind San Jose for top spot in the division.
Forward Leon Draisaitl now ranks 16th in NHL scoring with 32 points (14G, 18A), In the month of December, Draisaitl collected 15 points (7G, 8A) in 13 games, for the eighth best point total in the NHL this past month. Has four multiple point games in December, and has points in four of his last five games.
Draisaitl has eight power play goals, tied for second in the NHL with Wayne Simmonds (PHI) and Shea Weber (MTL), and trailing only Sidney Crosby (PIT), who has nine power play goals.
Forward Patrick Maroon only needs one more goal to match his career best of 12 goals in one season (2015-16). Maroon has 17 points (11G, 6A) through the first 37 games of the season, which also put him on pace to match or improve his career best point total (34) in a season, set in 2014-15 with Anaheim.
Since being acquired by Edmonton, Maroon has scored 31 points (19G, 12A) in 53 games.
Canucks team scope:
Vancouver is 6-7-1 in December and 16-18-3 overall at 35 points. That puts them four points behind Dallas for the second Wild Card position in the Western Conference. The Canucks have won each of their last two games with a 2-1 win over Los Angeles on Wednesday and 3-2 in overtime over Anaheim last night.
Henrik Sedin leads the Canucks with 24 points (9 goals, 15 assists). Bo Horvat is second on the team with 23 points in 37 games (10 goals, 13 assists). Henrik's brother Daniel has 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 37 contests.
The Sedins have historically done very well against the Oilers in their careers. Henrik has 17 goals and 81 points in 88 games while Daniel has 36 goals and 80 points in 85 games.