The Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers will each kick off their NHL seasons on Wednesday night in Edmonton. The Canucks are coming off a 92 point season that saw them miss the playoffs in 2021-22. Edmonton, meanwhile, had 104 points last season and got all the way to the Western Conference Finals before falling to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the Colorado Avalanche. The two teams both have postseason aspirations this season. The puck drops at 10:00pm EST.
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The Vancouver Canucks missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year in 2021-22 but there was room for optimism by season's end. Late in the season, the Canucks changed coaches and brought in Bruce Boudreau. Under Boudreau, the Canucks finished as one of the best teams in the Western Conference. Perhaps encouraged by their finish, Vancouver's front office kept their key pieces together by re-signing forwards Brock Boeser, Bo Horvat and JT Miller. The Canucks also brought in Andrei Kuzmenko from the KHL on a one-year deal. He had five points in three preseason games and looks like a legitimate top-9 forward for the Canucks. If the forwards can produce, the Canucks may be dangerous after allowing the third-fewest goals in the NHL last season.The 26-year-old posted a 2.72 GAA and a .915 save percentage in 64 games last season.
#Canucks HOCKEY?? IS BACK ?? TOMORROW??
TICKETS | https://t.co/gt6hCJVMg1 pic.twitter.com/0MouYix5vH
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October 11, 2022
Between the Pipes: Thatcher Demko will lead the Canucks in net. Demko finished last season with a 2.72 GAA and a .915 save percentage in 64 games. He will once again be tasked with carrying the work load for the Canucks and will get the start tomorrow night.
Difference Maker: Kuzmenko could comes in following a 20-goal campaign in the KHL last season and on just a one-year deal. He will have incentive to perform well to earn a multi-year deal from Vancouver or someone else this offseason. In turn, he will give the Canucks some much-needed firepower.