Today, the Canucks skated out at UBC ahead of their 7 PM tilt with the Edmonton Oilers from the Abbotsford Centre.
Here’s what went down.

Line Rushes

Shoutout to Brendan Batchelor for tweeting out the lines, as we were unable to be there in person at morning skate today.
Here’s how the Canucks look like they’ll lineup tonight:
  • Elias Pettersson will serve as the pivot on a line with Vasily Podkolzin and Andrey Kuzmenko on his wings, and we’re getting it out there early that we think this line will be featured heavily in tomorrow morning’s edition of The Statsies.
  • The Canucks’ depth is being tested early, as Dakota Joshua and Nils Höglander will serve as the wingers on captain Bo Horvat’s line tonight.
  • Quinn Hughes and Luke Schenn are back together, with Hughes back to playing the left side. It will be interesting to see if Hughes moves over to the right to play with Oliver Ekman-Larsson depending on how tonight’s game goes.
  • Take a good look at those eight defencemen, folks, because if Travis Dermott doesn’t return soon — remember, Bruce Boudreau had no update on his condition after Monday’s practice — then those are likely the eight defencemen the Canucks keep on their roster to begin the new season.
  • Batch also added that Thatcher Demko stayed late after practice to get extra work, which would indicate that Spencer Martin — who has been confirmed as Demko’s backup to start the season — will get the start this evening.
Here’s how the Oilers appear as though they’ll line up this evening:
Dylan Holloway has been absolutely electric this preseason and is getting a shot playing on Connor McDavid’s wing.
That’s the biggest story with the Oilers’ lineup, as Stuart Skinner is expected to get the start.
This Oilers lineup is less opening night-looking than the one the Canucks’ AHLers plus Vasily Podkolzin and a couple others lost to on Monday night.

What was said

Bruce Boudreau‘s contribution from the what was said section comes from a Cameo the passionate Canucks head coach made for a fan on Twitter:
“I don’t want you, your friends, or anybody else to worry about us Canucks,” Boudreau said. “No, we haven’t had the greatest training camp success, but we’re going to be fine. We start tomorrow — I know the game’s in Abbotsford, but as far as I’m concerned, that’s when the season sort of really starts and we’ll be ready to go, I want you to know that… I know the boys are ready to kick some ass in 22/23.”
Puck drop is at 7 PM from the Abbotsford Centre, and although there won’t be a TV broadcast, you can watch a livestream of the game on Canucks.com by clicking here.