Controversy in Game 7 before the puck even drops

The puck hasn't even dropped on Game 7 between the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers and fans on one side are already crying foul.

That's because NHL officials Chris Rooney and Jean Hebert will be calling tonight's game in Vancouver. Why's that a big deal? Oilers fans are quick to point out Rooney's record when officiating the Canucks is a bit suspicious, to say the least. The Canucks are 15-3-1 over the past three seasons in games where Rooney officiates. For perspective, the Oilers are 14-10 over the span with Rooney officiating.

But, the NHL would never rig games through the officials, right?

In a series where officiating has been one of the top story lines, I can't imagine why the NHL would give this assignment to Rooney. If nothing else, the optics of this decision look terrible.

Stay tuned for the result. Things could get ugly.

Read below for our earlier reports on tonight's game, published this morning.

Yesterday news broke that the Vancouver Canucks will be without leading scorer Brock Boeser for Game 7 this evening against the Edmonton Oilers due to a blood clotting issue.

Today, NHL insider Frank Seravalli confirmed that even if the Canucks get past the Oilers and onto the Western Conference Final, Boeser will still not be available to them. Seravalli reports that the Canucks have shut Boeser down for the entire post-season.

From Seravalli:

An absolutely brutal break for the Canucks' leading scorer. Here's hoping he makes a full recovery and comes back even stronger next season.

Read below for our earlier report on the Canucks' lineup heading into Game 7 tonight.

The Vancouver Canucks are on the brink of elimination and the brink of advancing to the Western Conference Final as they prepare to face the Edmonton Oilers in the final and deciding game of their second round Stanley Cup playoff series, Game 7.

There will be a ton on the line tonight and unfortunately for the Canucks they will be fighting an uphill battle with two of their top stars out of the lineup. Head coach Rick Tocchet has confirmed that star goaltender Thatcher Demko will not be available for Game 7, and of course there was the shocking news that Brock Boeser will miss the remainder of the playoffs due to a blood clotting issue.

This of course leaves Tocchet with a number of difficult choices to make before the biggest game of the season, something he has already done. Tocchet spoke to reporters on Monday and confirmed 4 changes to his lineup including the absence of Boeser due to his ailment.

Stepping out of the lineup tonight will of course be Boeser as well as forward Vasili Podkolzin with Sam Lafferty and Ilya Mikheyev expected to replace them tonight. Tocchet has also confirmed that he will be going back to goaltender Arturs Silovs in Game 7 despite Silovs getting shelled in Game 6.

Only time will tell if these prove to be the right decisions.