"We Need Two Points, There's No Vengeance": Canucks Focusing On Leaving Edmonton With A Victory

Thursday night will be a standard game, right?

Maybe not.

Latest From THN's Vancouver Canucks Site:

"It Got Him Into The Game": Canucks DeBrusk Discusses How Being Booed Motivates Brad Marchand & The Social Media Noise Surrounding Conor Garland Ahead Of Their Matchup Against The Oilers

Why It Is Time For The Canucks To Call Up Aatu Räty

Canucks Tocchet Gives His Thoughts On McDavid & Myers Suspensions

Nearly eight months ago, the Edmonton Oilers eliminated the Vancouver Canucks from the second round of the 2024 NHL Playoffs. Given the built-in Western-Canadian rivalry and recent playoff history, it was easy to assume their contests this season would have some extra oomph sprinkled in.

But a lot has transpired since these two teams last met five days ago. Connor McDavid's cross-check on Conor Garland and Tyler Myer's on Edmonton's Evan Bouchard resulted in the NHL handing down matching three-game suspensions to the pair.

While potentially productive conversations could have emerged—such as how the NHL treats its stars and the importance of referees making calls before the game begins policing itself—the discussions have, for the most part, replicated a cafeteria food fight, with either side’s fanbase hucking sandwiches at each other.

Related: McDavid Suspended Three Games For Cross-Check On Canucks Garland

Related: Canucks' Tyler Myers Suspended For Three Games

Since then, marquee matchups—like Alex Ovechkin versus McDavid—have been missed. Each city attempted to dunk on the other and lob in a statement from the Oilers brass expressing their disappointment with McDavid's suspension. From the outside, Thursday's game feels akin to a game played in May, not January.

With puck drop hours away, the Canucks need to be ready for what should be an intense atmosphere at Rogers Place.

Looking To Tonight

Tough chants pregame, tough hits mid-game, and potential tough questions post-game await Vancouver in Edmonton.

Time will tell how tonight's game plays out. There's a good chance each side puts the past aside and brings the usual level of physicality a matchup between these teams typically sees.

"Whatever happened, happened," Garland said yesterday after being asked about Oilers players potentially targeting him on the ice. "I didn't hurt him. I didn't slew-foot him or hit him in the head. So, I guess they're upset about the hold. I didn't try to injure him, but whatever comes with that comes about."

However, a hostile in-arena experience awaits the Canucks.

Oilers fans will likely reign down a chorus of chants ranging from humorous heckles to catty chirps. Garland will take the brunt of Edmonton's boos, given his holding of McDavid at the end of Saturday's contest led to the Oilers captain’s eventual cross-check.

"It's not going to deter [Garland] from going into the corners and in front of the net," Rick Tocchet said. "You heard Leon Draisaitl — one of the best players in the league — said we're talking about this big war.

"He didn't understand, why is there a war? It's about a hold and a couple of things that happened at the end."

Of course, amid the noise swirling and reasonable expectations of a relentless crowd at Rogers Place, two valuable points are still up for grabs. And the Canucks know this.

"We need two points,” Tocchet said. “There's no vengeance. It's just two points for us."

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.