Leevi Merilainen is first goalie off the ice for Canucks at optional morning skate in Edmonton. Late-night game tonight vs Oilers.
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Scenes from morning skate: Meriläinen and Canucks face nearly impossible task of keeping McDavid in check tonight vs. Oilers
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Nov 7, 2026, 14:37 EST
The Vancouver Canucks (3-14-1) look to snap a four-game losing streak when they visit the Edmonton Oilers (11-3-3) at Rogers Place. Tonight’s game begins at 9pm local time in Edmonton and 8pm PCT.
These teams met twice to open the season and combined for 27 goals in a 6-5 overtime win for Vancouver, followed by a 9-7 win for Edmonton.
What we saw
With the late local puck drop, the Canucks technically held an optional afternoon skate with their allotted game-day ice time beginning at noon in Edmonton. The Canucks may get defenceman Tom Willander back after missing a pair of games with a lower body injury. He practiced with the team on Friday; however, his status for tonight remains in question. Otherwise, Manny Malhotra’s options are limited. He can insert Arshdeep Bains up front or find a way to get Luke Schenn back in the lineup. Schenn has been a healthy scratch in four of the last five games.
It appears Leevi Meriläinen gets the nod in net. He surrendered six goals on 29 shots in a 6-2 loss in Winnipeg on Thursday. The 24-year-old Finn has dropped three straight since posting the team’s last win in Anaheim on October 27th. This will be Meriläinen’s sixth start in the last seven games and his ninth start in the last 12 outings.
As a team, the Canucks have dropped four straight and 14 of their last 15. Liam Öhgren and Brock Boeser scored the goals against the Jets. With six goals on the season, they now have a share of the team lead along with Jonathan Lekkerimäki. Öhgren has scored in four of the team’s last five games while Boeser is on a three-game point streak. Marco Rossi has points in consecutive games for the first time since the first two games of the season.
Guillaume Brisebois logged the second most ice time of his career on Thursday playing 19:07. The only time he has played more was 19:51 against Dallas in February 2023.
Penalty killing and sluggish starts continue to plague the club. Thursday the Canucks gave up a power play goal early and then allowed another goal just 14 seconds later. It’s the third straight game their opponent has opened the scoring in the first five minutes.
The Canucks surrendered five or more goals for the ninth time in 18 outings this season. They also scored exactly two goals for the 11th time in those 18 contests.
Paul Cotter scored twice, including the overtime winner in Edmonton on opening night. He had a goal and a helper against the Oilers two nights later. So four of his eight points on the season came in those first two games.
The Opponent
The @EdmontonOilers morning skate: Podkolzin-McDavid-Draisaitl Kapanen-RNH-Hyman Jones-Dickinson-Joseph Formenton-Michaels-Frederic Hallander Ekholm-Bouchard Shea-Murphy Mukhamadullin-Emberson Walman Levi *Dach is not one the ice
The Oilers fell 5-4 to Anaheim on Thursday night. Connor McDavid scored a shorthanded goal and added three assists to boost his league-leading total to 44 points in 17 games. Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard and Kasperi Kapanen also scored as Edmonton went two for six on the power play.
McDavid, Draisaitl (31) and Bouchard (30) are the top three scorers in the league. With 14 goals, Draisaitl sits two behind Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov for the NHL lead.
The Oilers power play ranks third in the league at 33.9%. Interestingly, of his 10 goals so far this season, McDavid has yet to score with the man-advantage. Overall, Edmonton leads the NHL in goals per game at 4.12 per outing.
Between injury and illness, the Oilers went with third stringer Matt Tomkins in goal on Thursday and their emergency back-up Brett Epp also dressed for the contest. Tomkins allowed five goals on 21 shots. Devon Levi returns to the net tonight after a seven-game injury absence. He’ll be backed up by Tristan Jarry. The Oilers also get veteran Zach Hyman back tonight after missing five games due to injury.
The Oilers are 4-3-2 on home ice this season and have been outscored 34-32. Thursday was the fourth time in those nine games the club has allowed at least five goals at home this season, including opening night against the Canucks.
News and notes
McDavid has a point in all 17 games he’s played this season and only five times has he been held to a single point. Seven of his 44 points came in the first two games of the season against the Canucks. In his career, McDavid has 25 goals and 82 points in 48 games versus Vancouver.
The referees for tonight’s game are Wes McCauley and Furman South.
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What are you actually trying to accomplish? Most people don’t want a mortgage. They want a first home, a bigger one, a rental property, or breathing room on their debt. Jason starts with that question. A mortgage broker for more than 20 years and named one of Canada’s top 30 mortgage brokers by Canadian Mortgage Professional magazine, Jason works with Dominion Lending Centres A.I.M.I. Collective, serving clients across British Columbia and Alberta. His clients include first-time buyers, move-up families, self- employed business owners, investors and homeowners looking to refinance. He lays out the real options, makes a clear recommendation, and does the legwork so the right lender says yes.
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Vancouver CanucksTeam Cap Summary
Cap Summary
2026-27
2027-28
Projected Cap Hit
$87,993,412
$71,329,167
Projected Cap Space
$16,006,588
$42,170,833
Current Cap Space
$19,905,629
$42,170,833
Active Players
23/23
13/23
Draft Picks
Round
'27
'28
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
1
1