What happened: The Edmonton Oilers visit Rogers Arena on Thursday for a scheduled preseason matchup against the Vancouver Canucks. Edmonton is deploying a predominantly AHL roster for the contest.
Why it matters: The matchup serves as an evaluation opportunity for depth players aiming to secure spots within the organization before the regular season begins. Vancouver will look to improve its defensive structure after struggling to prevent goals in recent outings.
By the numbers: Edmonton holds an 8-5 record this season while averaging 3.4 goals per game. Vancouver enters at 2-9, allowing 4.5 goals per contest during a two-game losing streak.
What to watch: Edmonton will evaluate the performances of its depth options before finalizing the roster ahead of opening night.