Five storylines to watch as the Edmonton Oilers complete their regular season by hosting the Vancouver Canucks in what will be the final NHL game for the Sedin twins tonight at Rogers Place, game time 8 p.m. (Sportsnet, 630 CHED).
1. Fond farewell
On April 12, 2014, Ryan Smyth had a teary final game for the Oilers at Rexall Place with the Sedins and Vancouver Canucks in town. Now it’s Daniel and Henrik’s turn to skate away after 18 seasons in one final game against the Oilers. It’s the last time to see No. 22 and No. 33 on the ice for the Canucks, two inextricably linked twins from Sweden who shared a hockey mind. Good people, wonderful ambassadors for the game, outstanding hockey players.
2. Racking up the points
Connor McDavid will have his name on the Art Ross trophy for a second straight year. Last season he had an even 100 points with 30 goals and 70 assists. This season, he goes into the final game with 106 points (41 goals and 65 assists). Since Feb. 1, he has racked up 52 points (26 goals and 26 assists). He may not win the MVP again, but he’s the top scorer.
3. Lottery odds
Right now, the Oilers have the seventh-best chance at the first overall pick in the April 28 lottery and the right to take Swedish defenceman Rasmus Dahlin No. 1 in the draft. The league and fans everywhere but here would be apoplectic if the Oilers won the lottery again but at No. 7, there’s a 6.5 per cent chance. Vancouver has the sixth best odds.
4. Aberg in doghouse
Pontus Aberg missed a practice in Florida and was slapped hard on the wrists and sat for two games on a road trip a few weeks back. When he returned, he was on his best behaviour and fired up and looked good. But the former Nashville right-winger was a healthy scratch against Vegas on Thursday, never a good thing with a young offensive player who should be able to work his way into the top-nine somewhere.
5. Lowe and behold
Keegan Lowe played his first Oilers game against Vegas and in the dying stages, when the Oilers were killing a bogus penalty to Jesse Puljujarvi and they pulled goalie Malcolm Subban, Lowe was out there to try to kill it off. He had some nervous moments and some mistakes but he competes hard and plays a greasy game. He’ll get another chance against the Canucks.
BIG MATCHUP
Adam Larsson vs. the Sedins.
Like all young Swedes, Larsson has a kinship with the Sedins. He feels they paved the way for their countrymen and also played the game the right way, honourably and hard. Larsson plays a greasy game in a shutdown role and on Henrik and Daniel’s final night he probably won’t mind trying to stop their ever-present cycle. When the game ends, he’ll probably give them a big hug, just as Arizona’s Swede, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, did Thursday night.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Oilers: PP 30-208 14.4 per cent, (31st). PK 57-241 76.3 per cent (26th)
Canucks: PP 53-243 21.8 per cent (8th). PK 59-274 78.5 per cent (21st)
SICK BAY
Oilers: Oscar Klefbom (shoulder surgery), Andrej Sekera (knee), Yohann Auvitu ( bruised foot).
Canucks: Brock Boeser (back), Loui Eriksson (ribs), Chris Tanev (knee), Markus Granlund (ankle), Erik Gudbranson (shoulder), Sven Baertschi (shoulder)