Edmonton at Vancouver

This is the opener for Edmonton while Vancouver played yesterday. And did they ever play badly, looking lost in a 7-3 blowout loss to Anaheim. Vancouver goalie Cory Schneider signed a three-year, $12 million contract over the summer, then allowed five goals before being removed in favor of Roberto Luongo early in the second period! The Canucks are 1-5 in their last six vs. the Western Conference. They take on an interesting Edmonton team, a youthful group under first-year coach Ralph Krueger. Edmonton opened 8-2-2 last season and has a ton of young talent back. They have an immensely talented core of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (19-years-old), Taylor Hall (21) and Jordan Eberle (22). Nugent-Hopkins was the No. 1 overall pick in 2011, and Hall was the first overall pick in 2010. Nugent-Hopkins had 18 goals and 34 assists in 62 games as a rookie last season while Hall posted 53 points in 61 contests. Eberle led the team with 34 goals and 42 assists. Edmonton also adds 19-year-old forward Nail Yakupov, the first overall pick in the 2012 draft, and upgraded the defense with 22-year-old free agent defenseman Justin Schultz, so grab the hungry, young (and talented) dog. Take Edmonton.