Canucks prepared for McDavid, Oilers in all-Canadian Stanley Cup playoffs 2nd round matchup

Rick Tocchet doesn’t mind the fact that his Vancouver Canucks aren’t favoured to win against their next playoff opponent.

“I love being doubted,” the head coach said.

Analysts have been skeptical of the Canucks all season, Tocchet added.

Now the betting odds are on the Edmonton Oilers to top the Canucks in a best-of-seven, second-round matchup that starts Wednesday.

That’s just fine by Tocchet.

“I think we kind of like that underdog role,” he said. “And I think players should embrace it. I really do.”

Vancouver was the dominant side in the regular-season series between the two clubs, with the Canucks sweeping the Oilers 4-0.

While there are lessons to take from those games, Edmonton — which advanced to the second round by topping the L.A. Kings in a five-game series — isn’t dwelling on the results, said head coach Kris Knoblauch.

“It’s in the past, but obviously, with the series being as lopsided as it was, we need to address some things and change some things,” he said.

After a rough start to the campaign, Edmonton finished the regular season second in the Pacific Division, five points back of Vancouver.

The Oilers have continued to roll in the playoffs, with captain Connor McDavid putting up a league-leading 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) in the first round. Zach Hyman has continued his blistering scoring pace, too, amassing seven goals across the first five games of the post-season.

The Canucks know the team they’ll face on Wednesday is much different than the one they beat during the regular season.

“We should be super excited. This is a rivalry that we love playing against,” said forward J.T. Miller. “Obviously,…