Oilers aim to beat Canucks tonight, boost playoff fortunes

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers will finish their regular season tonight with one goal in mind: Beat the visiting Vancouver Canucks and avoid a first-round playoff clash with one of the Central Division heavyweights.

The Oilers (40-30-11), who made it to the last two Stanley Cup finals before losing each time to the Florida Panthers, can finish second in the “pillow fight” Pacific Division behind the Vegas Golden Knights with a win tonight over the last-place Canucks, who have reeled off three straight wins.

A loss to the Canucks and the Oilers, with 91 points, have to worry about the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings, both one point back. The Ducks play the Predators in Nashville tonight, while the Kings visit the Flames.

Central Division powerhouse Colorado Avalanche (119 points) will face the West’s No. 2 wild-card team, currently the Kings heading into tonight’s action.