Babcock sending an AHL lineup to Vancouver on Thursday

The Oilers visit the Canucks at Rogers Arena on Thursday night, and Mike Babcock has already told everyone not to expect the regulars.

Puck drop is 7:00 PM MT, with the game on Sportsnet and on the Oilers Radio Network, including 880 CHED.

After Tuesday's 2-1 overtime win over Winnipeg, decided by Marjala's overtime winner, Babcock said Edmonton would take an "American League lineup" to Vancouver. The veterans stay back to work, then handle Saturday's pre-season finale against Calgary at Rogers Place as the real tune-up for opening night.

"We'll put the NHL guys together, and we'll practice and get ourselves ready," Babcock said. "The bottom line is just going over the same details, but obviously getting the pace way higher, because we'll have all our players then."

That leaves Thursday as the last audition for the rest of the camp roster, and the last chance to rehearse the systems installed over the past few weeks before cuts come down. Edmonton is expected to trim to something close to its opening-night group ahead of Saturday.

The regular season starts Sept. 29 against the Canucks, so Thursday doubles as an early look at the same opponent, just with very different lineups on both benches.