In a surprising turn of events, the Vancouver Canucks have opted for a different strategy following the trade of Daniel Sprong. Many fans anticipated the inclusion of Dakota Joshua or Jonathan Lekkerimäki in the lineup for the highly-anticipated game against the Edmonton Oilers. However, the Canucks have called up Arshdeep Bains and Nils Åman from the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL instead.

Joshua participated in Saturday's morning skate but did not engage in normal line rushes, raising concerns about his availability since he has missed multiple practices leading up to the game. Lekkerimäki was also considered for the lineup, but a reported minor injury will keep him sidelined from playing in Abbotsford as well.

The more pressing concern for the Canucks is the status of Brock Boeser. He left Thursday's game after suffering a blindside hit to the head from Tanner Jeannot, who received a match penalty and a three-game suspension for the incident. General Manager Patrik Allvin confirmed that Boeser is still undergoing evaluation and will not be playing against the Oilers. Head Coach Rick Tocchet provided an update, stating, “I talked to him briefly. Doesn’t feel great, but I wouldn’t say it’s horrible, so I think he’s indefinite right now.”

As the Canucks prepare to meet an Oilers team eager to rebound from consecutive losses to the New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights, they will need to strategize effectively. The Oilers have faced a rocky start to the season, sporting a record of 6-7-1 and a troubling minus-12 goal differential. Despite these setbacks, they maintain a formidable puck possession game, reflected in their impressive score-adjusted corsi percentage of 55.8%, placing them second in the NHL, just behind the Carolina Hurricanes. However, a glaring issue has been their abysmal shooting percentage; the Oilers rank third lowest in the league at 5.8% during 5-on-5 play.

Special teams might be a differentiator in this matchup. While the Oilers’ power play has struggled — currently sitting at 26th overall with a 14.3% success rate — their penalty kill is the worst in the NHL, managing a dismal 59.5%. This stat bodes well for the Canucks, who have scored power play goals in their last two outings.

Canucks Projected Lines: A New Look

With Boeser out and Bains and Åman available, the Canucks will be deploying a refreshed lineup:

- J.T. Miller will take to the ice with new linemates Pius Suter and Conor Garland, the latter of whom has been a standout performer.

- Elias Pettersson will be reunited with Jake DeBrusk, who has found the net in three consecutive games, and accompanied by Nils Höglander, looking to make his mark within the top-six.

- A consistent third line comprising Danton Heinen, Teddy Blueger, and Kiefer Sherwood remains intact, showcasing reliability.

- Bains and Åman will join veteran Aatu Räty on the fourth line.

At game time, it was confirmed that Bains would be a scratch, forcing the Canucks to adjust to 11 forwards and 7 defenders, with both Noah Juulsen and Vincent Desharnais warming up alongside Erik Brännström. In goal for the Canucks is Kevin Lankinen, with Arturs Silovs likely to play the following day in a back-to-back scenario.

Oilers’ Line Setup: Stars Under Pressure

Amidst their offense’s struggle, Leon Draisaitl continues to shine, tallying 9 goals and 16 points in 14 games this season. Connor McDavid, who recently returned to the lineup after an ankle injury, holds 10 points in 11 games — a statistic that doesn't quite meet his elite standards.

Projected lines for the Oilers are as follows:

- Jeff Skinner - Connor McDavid - Zach Hyman

- Vasily Podkolzin - Leon Draisaitl - Viktor Arvidsson

- Adam Henrique - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Connor Brown

- Mattias Janmark - Derek Ryan - Corey Perry

- Defensive Pairings: Mattias Ekholm - Evan Bouchard, Darnell Nurse - Troy Stecher, Brett Kulak - Ty Emberson

Podkolzin, a former Canuck, has struggled to find the net, registering no goals and 3 assists while leading the team in corsi at 64.9%. Disturbingly, when he is on the ice, the team’s shooting percentage drops dramatically to 2.83%, a figure that should improve given the Oilers' offensive power.

Starting goaltending duties are expected to fall to Stuart Skinner, as the Oilers are contending with goaltending issues, both Skinner and Calvin Pickard having sub-.890 save percentages.

Saturday's clash between the Canucks and Oilers promises excitement as both teams eye crucial points in the standings. Can the Canucks maintain momentum against a desperate Oilers squad? Tune in to find out!