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Vancouver Canucks: 3 keys to victory in season opener vs. Oilers

By David Quadrelli |
VANCOUVER, BC - SEPTEMBER 25: Vancouver Canucks Center Bo Horvat (53) before a faceoff during their NHL preseason game against the Ottawa Senators at Rogers Arena on September 25, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Devin Manky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - SEPTEMBER 25: Vancouver Canucks Center Bo Horvat (53) before a faceoff during their NHL preseason game against the Ottawa Senators at Rogers Arena on September 25, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Devin Manky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Vancouver Canucks season is officially here! The Canucks face off against the Edmonton Oilers tonight.

The Vancouver Canucks will face the Edmonton Oilers for their first game of what looks to be a memorable 50th season, on the road in Alberta. It’s an opportunity for both teams to get their season’s started on a high note.

All eyes will be on the Canucks core four players, Calder Trophy winner Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, Bo Horvat, and rookie defenceman Quinn Hughes. Tonight’s puck drop is at 7 PM from Rogers Place in Edmonton. Here are three keys to the Canucks securing a victory in their first game of the season.

Shut down Connor McDavid

Everytime any team in the NHL faces the Oilers, their main focus is shutting down Connor McDavid. Arguably the best player in the world, McDavid can hurt you in many ways, and can turn on the jets to go coast to coast, and bury the puck in the back of your net in the blink of an eye.

The Canucks have done a good job of shutting down McDavid in the past. The Canucks finished both last year and the 2017-18 season with a 2-1-1 record against the Oilers. It will be crucial for them to shut down 97 if they want to get off on the right foot with a victory in their season opener.

Goaltending

Goaltending will be a key all season long and a major storyline that we all pay attention to. Will Jacob Markstrom be able to maintain the level of excellence we saw from his last season? Will Thatcher Demko emerge and challenge Markstrom for the starting job?

We’ll soon find out, but the Canucks will need Markstrom to be sharp tonight if they hope to come away with a victory. Markstrom is 7-4-1 against the Oilers since joining the Canucks in 2014. Markstrom will get his first opportunity to get off on the right foot and continue his increased level of play tonight.

Special Teams

The Canucks penalty kill was great last season. With the likes of Jay Beagle, Tim Schaller, Brandon Sutter, and Tyler Motte, they managed to finish with the 11th best penalty kill in the league, killing off 81.1.% of penalties the team took.

With the personnel not changing much, we can expect the Canucks penalty killing unit to once again be exceptional this season. Against a team whose power play was firing on all cylinders and managed to finish with the 8th best power play percentage in the league last year, you need to be on your A-game when it comes to being shorthanded.

The Canucks power play, however, needs to be better this season. They tied for 22nd in the league when it comes to power play percentage last season, but should be better this year thanks to the additions of Quinn Hughes and J.T. Miller.

The Canucks will be in Calgary this Saturday for their second game of the season before playing their home opener on Wednesday, October 9th against the L.A. Kings. The Canucks will be naming a captain prior to puck drop of that game. Puck drop is at 7 PM tonight from Edmonton.

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