Elias Pettersson, Jonathan Dahlen to debut as Canucks open preseason vs Edm (nikolay goldobin)

nikolay goldobin

Elias Pettersson, Jonathan Dahlen to debut as Canucks open preseason vs Edm

By Carol Schram

Sep 18, 2018 • 2:52 pm

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Tuesday September 18 - Vancouver Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers - 7:30 p.m. - Sportsnet, Sportsnet 650

We have to wait an extra half hour—tonight's game starts at 7:30 p.m. PT because it's the back half of a Sportsnet doubleheader following the Kraft Hockeyville game from Lucan, Ontario.

But it is, indeed, game day! And we will see both Elias Pettersson and Jonathan Dahlen make their debuts as the Canucks host the Edmonton Oilers.

Despite their strong chemistry at Young Stars, the two slick Swedes will start on separate lines.

Tim Schaller will also make his debut in a Canucks uniform. Ashton Sautner is the only defenseman from outside of last year's core to suit up on defense, and Anders Nilsson is scheduled to play the full game, with Michael DiPietro backing up.

Players of note who aren't in the lineup tonight include Brock Boeser, Adam Gaudette, Jay Beagle, Petrus Palmu, Kole Lind, Jonah Gadjovich, Olli Juolevi and Thatcher Demko. I imagine most if not all will see action on Wednesday.

The Oilers are playing their second game in as many nights, after a 7-4 win over the Flames in Calgary on Monday. As we often see from road teams in preseason, Edmonton isn't dressing its big guns tonight.

Kailer Yamamoto, the 5'8" sparkplug who was chosen 22nd overall last season, scored two goals on Monday, skating on a line with fellow rookies Tyler Benson and Ryan McLeod. The young trio will get another look tonight from coach Todd McLellan.

I'm interested to see what Jesse Puljujarvi and Ryan Strome bring as a unit for Edmonton, curious to see how new Oilers forwards Ty Rattie and Kyle Brodziak look, and interested to see whether former Canuck Jason Garrison—who's now 33!—will be able to convert his PTO into an NHL contract after he was shuffled down to the minors by Vegas last season.

If you missed it, Pettersson showed off his sick mitts again at the final training camp scrimmage at Whister on Monday.

Nikolay Goldobin was Pettersson's linemate on Monday. He had a hat trick himself.

Interesting that Travis Green has elected to keep that pair together for tonight's game action.

Goldy and EP will also get a look on the power play—and Ben Hutton will get his chance to show if he can be an offensive force this season after managing no goals and just six assists in 61 games last year.

Sounds like Pettersson is just as eager as the fans to get this show on the road!

After camp wrapped up on Monday, the Canucks made their first round of cuts. Defenseman Garrett McFadden was released from his tryout, while nine players were sent to Utica—forward Michael Carcone, who is signed to an NHL contract, and eight players on AHL deals: forwards Tanner MacMaster, Reid Gardiner, Vincent Arseneau and Brendan Woods and defensemen Ben Betker, Brandon Anselmini, Jamie Sifers and Dylan Blujus.

That brings the roster down to 49 players—six goalie, 15 defensemen and 28 forwards.

Here's the latest update on Antoine Roussel's concussion recovery:

The Canucks also unveiled their new ad campaign for the season on Monday. Working off a similar aesthetic to last year's promos, the new key word is...battle.

I respect the fact that they're acknowledging the need to 'battle the odds.' The Canucks are now getting love from around the league for their core group of young players but I don't think I've heard anyone suggest that they might be a sneaky good team this year—especially not with the influx of big names into the Pacific Division during this offseason.

I like the fact that we're going to get a blast of three games in three nights, so we can take a look at all these players. But make sure you make the most of this time!

After this stretch of home games wraps up on Thursday, the Canucks hit the road for games in Calgary, Salt Lake City, Edmonton and Kelowna to finish out the preseason, then return to Rogers Arena for their regular-season home opener against the Flames on October 3 before embarking on a six-game road trip.

That trip should be an excellent chance for this Sedin-less group to start to bond, no matter who ends up making the team. But the fact remains—including these preseason games, the Canucks play at home just four times over the next month.

With that in mind—enjoy the game! Hockey is back!!

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