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Canucks topple Oilers

Sep 20, 2009 - 4:37 AM VANCOUVER, British Columbia(AP) -- Vancouver tough guy Darcy Hordichuk scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period to lift the Canucks to a 3-1 preseason victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night.

Hordichuk, better known for using his hands against opposing fighters than for scoring goals, was sent in alone by Jannik Hansen on a 2-on-1, and made a quick deke in tight before lifting a backhand in off the blocker of Oilers goaltender Jeff Deslaurier.

Cody Hodgson, the 10th overall pick in the 2008 draft and last year's Canadian junior player of the year, added an empty-net goal with 54.2 seconds left. It was the highly touted center's first game after being held out of contact drills most of training camp with a lower back injury.

Roberto Luongo made 22 saves in his first complete game as the Canucks improved to 4-0-0 in exhibition play by handing Edmonton its first loss (3-1-0).

Alexander Edler opened the scoring on a Canucks power play midway through the first period with a wrist shot from the point that skipped through a screen and between the legs of Deslaurier.

Oilers defenseman Sheldon Souray tied it on a shot from the blue line through traffic with 6 seconds left in the period. It was the first puck to beat Luongo through almost three periods in the preseason.

Deslaurier, who is slated to back up free agent addition Nikolai Khabibulin this season, finished with 31 saves, including a couple of close-range breakaways and point-blank chances.

Vancouver was playing its third game in three nights after sweeping a two-game trip through Anaheim and San Jose. The Oilers play for a third time in as many nights on Sunday in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, against the New York Islanders.