Going for Six in a Row... Oilers/Canucks Game Preview

You're my boy BLUE!

Times have been good for the Canucks.  It is the holiday season, the Canucks have won 5 straight games, providing everyone with some cheer.  They have had a nice little 3 day break which has included charitable events and ugly sweater parties.  The Canucks currently sit 5th in the Pacific Division and 8th in the Western Conference with 41 points (18-10-5).  The Oilers are at the bottom of the Pacific Division and 14th in the Western Conference with 25 points (11-19-3).

It is time to get down to business this weekend with a doubleheader featuring the Oilers tonight and big bad Bruins tomorrow night.

This game can be viewed on CBC at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT.

Here are the projected lineups:

Oilers (the bad guys)

Forwards:

Taylor Hall - Sam Gagner - Nail Yakupov

David Perron - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Jordan Eberle

Jesse Joensuu - Mark Arcobello - Ales Hemsky

Luke Gazdic - Anton Lander - Ryan Jones

Defensemen:

Anton Belov - Jeff Petry

Andrew Ference - Philip Larsen

Nick Schultz - Justin Schultz

Goaltenders:

Devan Dubnyk (starter)

Jason LaBarbera

Canucks (the good guys)

Forwards:

Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Jannik Hansen

Chris Higgins - Ryan Kesler - Mike Santorelli

David Booth - Brad Richardson - Zack Kassian

Jeremy Welsh - Zac Dalpe - Dale Weise

Defensemen:

Ryan Stanton - Kevin Bieksa

Dan Hamhuis - Christopher Tanev

Andrew Alberts - Jason Garrison

Goaltenders:

Roberto Luongo (starter)

Eddie Lack

Things to watch for - Oilers:

David Perron - he is hot right now.  He has 5 goals and 9 points in the Oiler's last 5 games.  The former Blues stud was traded to the Oilers this offseason after falling out of favor with the St. Louis faithful.  He has been able to put out very good production with 27 points in 29 games this season.  He leads the Oilers in shots on goal with 106 registered.

Jordan Eberle - the Oilers leader in points.  He has 28 points in 33 games.  He is one of my favorite young players around the NHL.  He is a good shooter and deadly around the net when looking for loose rebounds.

Things to watch for - Canucks:

Dan Hamhuis - he turns 31 today.  He has 9 points in 33 games and has been a steady eddie on the Canucks blueline.  The Canadian Olympic hopeful provides a smooth skating defensive presence on the blue line and has helped fellow defensemen Chris Tanev in his development.

Chris Higgins - the New York native has the Canucks hot hand right now.  He has 6 points in his last 5 games which includes the big goal he scored in overtime against Phoenix.

Prediction:
3-2 Canucks (Hamhuis birthday game winner) 

Until next time, stay classy! -George