Oilers 4 - 5 Canucks
Final - 2OT
  for this game

Canucks try to extend success in clash with Oilers

Oct 11, 2014 - 2:47 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Following the successful debut of a number of new faces, the Vancouver Canucks try to make it back-to-back victories on Saturday night in a home encounter with the Edmonton Oilers.

After missing the postseason in 2013-14, the Canucks fired John Tortorella as head coach and replaced him with Willie Desjardins. The new bench boss had a winning debut on Wednesday night as his club bested the Calgary Flames 4-2.

A pair of free agent signings contributed to the new coach's win as Radim Vrbata had a goal and Ryan Miller made 23 saves.

Henrik Sedin added an empty-net goal and an assist, while Alexandre Burrows and Zack Kassian also scored.

"To come on the road and get a win is very important, but I thought what was really important was that we were able to use our whole team," Desjardins said. "Everybody played and everybody contributed."

The Oilers did not have similar luck the following night when they opened their season against the visiting Flames, falling 5-2. Calgary's Mason Raymond potted a hat trick, including the go-ahead goal 4:23 into the third period.

Teddy Purcell, acquired in the offseason from Tampa Bay in the deal for Sam Gagner, and Taylor Hall scored power-play goals for the Oilers, while Ben Scrivens allowed five goals on 26 shots.

Edmonton had 40 shots in the game, including a 14-7 advantage in the first period that still saw them trail by a goal.

"I can't remember us being that good offensively last year," Edmonton coach Dallas Eakins said. "Maybe a couple of times, but off the top of my head I can't remember them, and I would."

Leon Draisaitl, the third overall pick of the 2014 draft, made his debut for Edmonton. The 18-year-old had one shot and was a minus-1 in 14 minutes and 47 seconds of ice time.

Edmonton opens up a three-game swing in Vancouver, where it has lost 11 of its past 14 games.






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