What happened: The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks opened play as the puck dropped for their regular-season matchup. Both Western Conference teams have begun action on the ice.

Why it matters: Divisional contests play a critical role in establishing positioning within the standings. Head-to-head results against Pacific rivals carry substantial weight in the race for playoff spots.

What to watch: Both squads will play through three periods of regulation before continuing their respective regular-season schedules.