The set-up: Vancouver was the better, more consistent team last year. Edmonton is loaded with talent, but it's issues the last few seasons have come on the defensive end of the ice. Vancouver lost a few players in the offseason, but they added a big player in goaltender Braden Holtby, brought in as a veteran presence to bring stability to the backend. And that's going to be especially important early on in the season.

The pick: Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are amazing talents, but the Oilers get a bit thin after that. Goaltending falls to Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith, so I'm giving Vancouver the nod in the net tonight and that's the deciding factor in this evenly matched contest.

This is an 8* play on the Vancouver Canucks.