Vancouver at Edmonton

Edmonton won't have trouble scoring goals, but like the Canucks preventing them will be the question mark. However, the Oilers are a team on the way up while Vancouver finished last in its division with only 50 points, 22 fewer than Edmonton, which added some players to help with depth and the Oilers are legitimate contenders to win the Pacific Division. Vancouver had all kinds of COVID-19 problems, which severely affected its season, and it added some key players, but the Canucks will need much improvement especially at the blue line to make the playoffs. Mike Smith is still the No. 1 goalie for Edmonton with Mikko Koskinen the backup. The 39-year-old Smith was 21-6-2 with a 2.31 goals-against average and .923 save percentage last season. Vancouver goalie Thatcher Demko was 3-5 with a 3.03 GAA versus the Oilers in 2020-21. Vancouver ended the season losing 11 of its last 15. Play the Oilers.