Goaltender Roberto Luongo won't have Ales Hemsky in his face Saturday night, or for the rest of the season because of the latter's shoulder surgery. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press file)

Perhaps the best thing that could happen to the Edmonton Oilers was getting out of town for a night on the Left Coast.

Nothing but bad news back home, after all.

Friday found the Oil (10-12-4) facing word that one of their best scorers, Ales Hemsky, is out for the season after shoulder surgery.

Then they had to endure the mostly media-created emotion of the "return" to northern Alberta of Dany Heatley, who turned down a trade opportunity to Edmonton from Ottawa this summer and wound up with the San Jose Sharks.

Finally, there was a blown two-goal lead in a wild third period and eventual shootout loss to the Sharks that didn't go down too well.

Heck, let's get out of town and see what happens.

So, Saturday night in Vancouver (CBC Sports, CBCSports.ca, 10 p.m. ET), the Oilers bring the league's second-worst road record (2-7-2) and a four game visiting losing string into GM Place where the Canucks are excellent (9-3).

Edmonton coach Pat Quinn, in his first year and charged with taking the club to the playoff promised land, has not been happy with the play of his new team, Friday night included.

"There is no way we should have lost this hockey game," the bench boss said. "We did some really good things, but what has been our problem here from Day 1 is we don't cover well against our net.

"We have a group that stares at the puck and doesn't recognize danger."

Hopefully they can recognize an opportunity, because despite the Canucks' strong play in Lotus Land they are also lousy on the road, meaning Vancouver (13-11) is only two points ahead of the Oilers, though with two games in hand.

Saturday's hosts have been on a win-loss roller-coaster, in part because of a tough schedule that sees them alternately either at home for a couple of weeks or on the road for an extended vacation.

Following a 2-3 five-gamer away, the Canucks are 2-1 on the current five-contest homestand, including a solid 4-1 victory over Los Angeles on Thursday.

When they go back on the road Dec. 2 they'll be away a week and then back for eight straight.

Vancouver has outscored opponents 17-6 in the last four games, and one of those was a shutout loss to Chicago.

"We've get to get on a roll and start feeling good about ourselves," said forward Ryan Johnson.

That's got to be helped by Henrik Sedin, who has scored five times in the last four games and has happily welcomed back twin brother Daniel from the injured list.

In goal, it's likely to be Robert Luongo again for the Canucks against Jeff Deslauriers, who has started five straight for Edmonton while Nikolai Khabibulin takes care of a bad back.