The Canucks own battle of Alberta continues tonight when the Edmonton Oilers come to town. Anson Carter will not play tonight, because of a concussion. Honestly would MacT have even let Carter suit up for this game. Maybe the bad blood between Carter and the Canucks only comes from the fans, but if there was any from the players, Carter would have a rough time tonight.
Cory Schneider will get the start for the Canucks tonight and is looking to improve on his play from last night. He saved all 8 shots he faced, blanking the Flames. Mathieu Garon will get the start for Edmonton and is ready to put his time with the L.A. Kings behind him and show he can compete at the NHL level.
Willie Mitchell, Brendan Morrison, Byron Ritchie and Trevor Linden are all still out with sore groins.
I remember coming off a long off season to play soccer again in september and in my very first practice i partially tore my groin. So I know what first hand what inactivity can do to an athlete.
Aaron Miller and Sami Salo are of course out, with abdominal surgery and a fractured wrist respectively.
Jannik Hansen suffered a broken thumb and will be out of commission for some time. At this time I don't know how the he succumbed to the injury, but it couldn't have come at a worse time.
I am very excited about the first two lines for the Canucks tonight. It will showcase exactly what our young talent can do and the first line might become a possible reality.
22 Daniel Sedin - 26 Ryan Shannon - 33 Henrik Sedin
40 Michael Grabner - 38 Greg Classen - 42 Jozef Balej
27 Brad Isbister - 17 Ryan Kesler - 29 Jason Jaffray
21 Mason Raymond - 39 Brad Moran - 46 Mike Brown
28 Luc Bourdon - 5 Lukas Krajicek
49 Zack Fitzgerald - 43 Shaun Heshka
50 Patrick Coulombe - 61 Maxime Fortunus
30 Cory Schneider
41 Curtis Sanford
The Canucks enter this game with a very young and inexperienced defence core. I hope they don't take the Oilers to lightly. And yes I do know this is the preseason, but I really like winning.
And for inquiring Oilers fans here is your lineup
27 Dustin Penner - 89 Sam Gagner - 83 Ales Hemsky
58 Slava Trukhno - 42 Jonas Almtorp - 51 Kyle Brodziak
8 Geoff Sanderson - 13 Andrew Cogliano - 28 Patrick Thoresen
22 Jean-Francois Jacques - 48 Ben Simon - 46 Zack Stortini
44 Sheldon Souray - 77 Tom Gilbert
73 T.J. Kemp - 36 Mathieu Roy
5 Ladislav Smid - 2 Matt Greene
32 Mathieu Garon
38 Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers
Just Believe
Ethan Liddle
go oilers go!!!!!