(Photograph credit score: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports activities)
Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers have discovered the constructive of their season-opening debacle and are able to make amends once they play host to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.
The Canucks handed the closely favored Oilers an 8-1 drubbing in Vancouver within the first half of the home-and-home set. Now, the Oilers will got down to show their mettle of their residence opener.
“Clearly, we did not need that to occur, little doubt about it, however we did and we’ll study from it and we’ll transfer on,” Draisaitl mentioned. “Typically it is good to get smacked slightly bit and get again to work.”
Draisaitl, who has collected a minimum of one level in 19 consecutive video games towards the Canucks (netting 14 targets and 17 assists in that streak), added: “They are going to see a unique crew from us.”
Whereas Draisaitl meant his membership will present a greater efficiency, the Oilers anticipate a noteworthy change to their roster, as properly. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm missed the opener as a consequence of a hip flexor situation that nagged him by means of coaching camp, however seems able to take his spot on the highest pairing with Evan Bouchard.
In flip, the Oilers will be capable of crew Darnell Nurse and Cody Ceci as one other pairing and place Brett Kulak and Philip Broberg collectively for the third duo.
“I believe a part of us holding him again from the final sport was extra simply us attempting to get as good as potential getting Mattias what he wants in an effort to really feel able to play,” coach Jay Woodcroft mentioned.
The Canucks are kicking off a five-game highway journey and seeking to construct off the nice vibrations of their victory, which tied a franchise file for many targets in a season opener.
Whereas Vancouver is pegged to be at greatest a bubble crew within the playoff chase, the win is a large confidence enhance, particularly for Brock Boeser.
Boeser, who has struggled the previous few seasons as a consequence of accidents and private points, collected a pure hat trick en path to the primary four-goal sport of his profession and tied the file for many by a Canucks participant in a season opener (Greg Adams on Oct. 8, 1987, and Rick Blight on Oct. 6, 1976).
“I acquired to that mindset in the summertime the place I’ve acquired to be a greater hockey participant and actually work onerous,” mentioned Boeser, who’s attempting for the primary 30-goal season of his profession. “I got here again and it continues every single day. I’ve acquired to have that very same mindset tomorrow, the subsequent follow, the morning skate, I’ve acquired to maintain it going.”
J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson each scored one aim in four-point outings, and captain Quinn Hughes collected three assists within the lopsided victory.
Now, the strain is on to drum up one other win towards an Oilers squad out for revenge.
“We did not give them many alternatives,” Miller mentioned. “It means quite a bit. … We knew this matchup was in all probability coming and if you go towards the perfect on the earth (Connor McDavid and Draisaitl), it’s extremely thrilling and difficult.”
The Canucks, whose lineup was one participant quick for the season opener, will add ahead Jack Studnicka. Vancouver stays with out forwards Teddy Blueger and Ilya Mikheyev in addition to defensemen Guillaume Brisebois and Carson Soucy.
