Things were testy to start, with the Oilers looking to avenge the loss of their Captain following Conor Garland’s malicious attack on Connor McDavid’s stick with the side of his face.

The Edmonton Oilers will be without suspended superstar Connor McDavid when they host the struggling Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night in the second game between the Pacific Division rivals in less than a week.

Demko will defend the visiting cage in Edmonton on Thursday, according to Mark Spector of Sportsnet.

Nathan MacKinnon leads the league in scoring. Draisaitl only trails him by a single point. There is plenty of season left to be played, but as long as the Oilers have Draisaitl, they'll be fine. Draisaitl will be able to hold down the fort until the captain returns.

Thank you, and so long Vancouver Canucks. On Thursday evening, the Edmonton Oilers hosted their Pacific Division rivals in the final matchup between the two teams this season.

Zach Hyman scored two goals and had an assist and Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two assists as the Edmonton Oilers rolled over the visiting Vancouver Canucks 6-2 on Thursday.

NHL insider Chris Johnston shared his thoughts on Connor McDavid’s three-game suspension on First Up with Korolnek & Colaiacovo podcast.

The Connor McDavid-less Oilers exacted the best revenge possible from the Canucks Thursday night… In the wake of controversial circumstances at the end of a loss to Vancouver a few nights earlier, Edmonton pumped the ‘Nucks 6-2 in a game that left little to be debated as to who was the better and more engaged club.

Thatcher Demko’s ability to stay healthy remains a significant question mark. When he’s at full strength, however, he has the potential to be one of the NHL’s top goaltenders.

Hyman put Edmonton ahead 1-0 at 5:52 of the first period, taking a long lead pass from Draisaitl up the left boards at the blue line, cutting across at the dot while keeping Hronek on his back and scoring glove side on Demko.

Zach Hyman had two goals and an assist, Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two assists and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Vancouver Canucks 6-2.

In a highly anticipated NHL Pacific Division clash, the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Vancouver Canucks 6-2 at Rogers Place on Thursday (Jan. 23). Zach Hyman scored twice for the Oilers, who charged out to a 3-0 lead after the first period and went ahead 5-0 in the middle frame.