Our Vancouver Canucks vs Edmonton Oilers preview covers the odds, puck line, total, puck drop time, TV channel and where to watch for NHL Opening Night on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The Vancouver Canucks (25-49-8 in 2025-26) visit the Edmonton Oilers (41-30-11) at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alta. Puck drop is 10:00 PM ET (8:00 PM MT). TV: Sportsnet (Canada).

Opening Night storyline: This Pacific Division game is the Oilers and Canucks’ eighth mutual season opener (NHL.com), and both teams have new coaches: Mike Babcock in his first game with Edmonton and Manny Malhotra in his first as an NHL head coach. DraftKings lists Edmonton at -278 and Vancouver at +225, with the puck line near even and the total at 6.5.

Vancouver Canucks vs Edmonton Oilers Odds, Puck Line & Game Info

Odds via DraftKings (through ESPN), cross-checked on Action Network, as of Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, ~5:30 PM PT. Lines move, so check your sportsbook before puck drop. Starting goalies were not confirmed at research time.

Vancouver Canucks Preview: Last Season, Offseason & Goalies

2025-26 recap: Vancouver went 25-49-8 (58 points), last in the NHL. The Canucks traded Quinn Hughes to Minnesota on Dec. 12, 2025, tied for 30th in goals scored, allowed the most goals in the league and finished last on the penalty kill (71.5%).

Offseason moves: It was a front-office overhaul. Henrik and Daniel Sedin became co-presidents of hockey operations, Ryan Johnson became GM and Manny Malhotra replaced Adam Foote as coach. Vancouver drafted Malhotra’s son, Caleb, third overall. The Canucks added Brendan Gallagher, Jamie Oleksiak, Luke Schenn and Paul Cotter. Teddy Blueger, Marcus Pettersson and Nils Hoglander are gone, and Evander Kane is an unrestricted free agent.

Key players & coach: Elias Pettersson led the team with 51 points. Jake DeBrusk led the NHL in high-danger shots on goal. Brock Boeser, Marco Rossi, Filip Hronek and Zeev Buium are also key pieces. This is Malhotra’s first NHL head coaching job after winning the 2025 Calder Cup with AHL Abbotsford.

Goalies: No. 1 goalie Thatcher Demko is on injured reserve as he recovers from January hip surgery, so NHL.com projects Kevin Lankinen and Nikita Tolopilo to start the season.

Injuries: Demko (hip) and Filip Chytil (shoulder) are on injured reserve. Mackenzie MacEachern (undisclosed) is out (ESPN).

Edmonton Oilers Preview: Babcock Era Begins

2025-26 recap: Edmonton went 41-30-11 (93 points) and finished second in the Pacific, then lost to Anaheim in six games in the first round. The Oilers led the NHL on the power play (30.6%) but allowed 3.23 goals per game (25th).

Offseason moves: Kris Knoblauch was fired, and Mike Babcock (700 wins, 12th in NHL history) was hired on June 23. It is his first NHL job since 2019. Edmonton signed Cup-winning goalie Frederik Andersen and defenseman Ryan Shea, traded Darnell Nurse to San Jose for Shakir Mukhamadullin, acquired goalie Devon Levi from Buffalo and added Mathieu Joseph. Jack Roslovic, Adam Henrique, Connor Ingram, Calvin Pickard and Curtis Lazar are gone.

Key players: Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl lead the way, with Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman in support.

Goalies: Andersen suffered an undisclosed injury during offseason training, so Tristan Jarry and Levi are expected to handle the net to start the season (NHL.com).

Injuries: Andersen, Jason Dickinson (foot), Matt Savoie, Alec Regula and Mattias Janmark are all on injured reserve (ESPN).

How to Watch Vancouver Canucks vs Edmonton Oilers

Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Puck drop: 10:00 PM ET (8:00 PM MT)
Venue: Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alta.
TV: Sportsnet in Canada. NHL.com and ESPN list no U.S. national broadcast for this game.

Check the puck line, moneyline and total above against your sportsbook before the September 29, 2026 puck drop, and look for confirmed starting goalies closer to game time.