Canucks battle the Oilers in final pre-season game

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) –  The season gets going for real on Wednesday night in Calgary, but there’s still the matter of one more pre-season matchup for the Vancouver Canucks. The Edmonton Oilers visit Rogers Arena as the two teams meet for the second time in the last three days.

Vancouver won the previous matchup 2-1 in Edmonton, and the Canucks will dress a lineup that looks slightly different. Daniel and Henrik Sedin are slated to draw back into the lineup with Radim Vrbata. Nick Bonino, who scored a goal in Thursday’s victory, will centre Chris Higgins and Alex Burrows.

Ryan Miller will get the start in goal for Vancouver, which will give the new goaltender another chance to get used to the ‘voices’, something he explained on Friday.

“Just because you’re going to hear it on the ice. I got to St.Louis (last season) and the guy called for a puck. I passed it that way…he was not on St.Louis. You take it for granted that you know what’s going on around you. (It’s easier) to get a feel for it.”

Some injury notes for Vancouver: Kevin Bieksa will not play tonight, but head coach Willie Dejardins is hopeful he will be ready for the season opener in Calgary. Tom Sestito and Brad Richardson will also sit this one out.

Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have the night off on the Edmonton side, but regulars Jordan Eberle, Nail Yakupov, Justin Schultz, and third overall pick Leon Draisaitl will play.

The Canucks also trimmed down the roster on Saturday, sending centre Cal O’Reilly to AHL Utica.

Tonight’s game can be seen at 7pm on Sportsnet ONE.

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