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Surging Oilers host Canucks

Dec 12, 2010 - 3:41 PM (Sports Network) - The Oilers' youth movement is in full effect.

Surging Edmonton aims to extend a six-game point streak this evening as it hosts the Vancouver Canucks at Rexall Place.

After a 6-12-4 start, the Oilers won four straight games from Nov. 29-Dec. 4. That burst was halted with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Ducks on Tuesday, but they rebounded on Friday with a 4-3 shootout triumph over the Lightning.

Rookies Jordan Eberle and Linus Omark notched the shootout goals, Taylor Hall, the top overall pick of the 2010 draft, posted his team-leading 10th goal in regulation and fellow freshman skater Magnus Paajarvi also lit the lamp.

Omark, making his NHL debut, scored the clincher in the shootout as he spun after collecting the disc in the neutral zone before faking a shot and then wristing the disc between the legs of Tampa Bay goaltender Dan Ellis.

"That's my game. I do stuff like that so why should I stop on this level," said the confident 23-year-old.

Veteran netminder Nikolai Khabibulin helped backstop the kids to victory with 38 saves.

Edmonton picked up the victory despite playing without veterans Ales Hemsky and captain Shawn Horcoff, and is now tied with Calgary for 14th in the Western Conference with 27 points.

The Oilers improved to 2-0-1 on a six-game homestand and 5-6-2 as the guest overall this season.

The Canucks have lost two of three since a four-game winning streak and will try to bounce back from last night's 5-4 overtime setback to Tampa Bay. Though it gained a point, Vancouver fell into a tie with Colorado for first place in the Northwest Division with 34 points.

Keith Ballard had the game-tying goal in the third period and twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin finished with a goal and an assist each, but Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos netted the game-winner 34 seconds into overtime.

The Lightning forward beat Cory Schneider with a one-timer with the Canucks' Ryan Kesler in the penalty box for high sticking.

"They've got a great power play, give credit to them," said Vancouver forward Henrik Sedin.

Schneider ended with 18 saves in his first start since Nov. 15 and also had two assists.

Vancouver played without Christian Ehrhoff (concussion) and Mason Raymond (broken thumb) due to injury.

Behind former Oiler Raffi Torres' first career hat trick, the Canucks dealt the Oilers a 4-3 loss in Edmonton on Nov. 2 in the first meeting of the season between the clubs. Vancouver has won five of the last six in this series and two of the last three played at Rexall Place.