Canucks vs. Oilers: West Division Showdown
Rogers Place, Edmonton
Game Summary
The Edmonton Oilers secured their first win of the 2025-26 season, defeating the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 in a thrilling Hockey Night in Canada clash at 10:00 PM ET. In their second home game, Edmonton’s power play and shot dominance (37-15) overwhelmed Vancouver, despite a valiant effort from goaltender Thatcher Demko. A late Canucks goal couldn’t spark a comeback, but the long-standing rivalry delivered high-octane intensity.
Key Moments
Rookie Noah Philp electrified Rogers Place with his first NHL goal, a second-period power-play snipe assisted by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, giving Edmonton a 1-0 lead. Andrew Mangiapane’s wrist shot late in the second doubled the advantage, sapping Vancouver’s momentum. Vancouver’s Brock Boeser answered with a late goal at 2:45 remaining in the third, assisted by Quinn Hughes, but it was too little, too late. Leon Draisaitl sealed a victory with a 60 foot backhander in an empty-net at 1:13 remaining.
Goaltender Battle
Thatcher Demko, playing back-to-back after a 17-save effort in Vancouver’s 5-1 rout of Calgary last night, was stellar, stopping 35 of 37 shots (.933 SV%) against Edmonton’s relentless 37-shot barrage. Calvin Pickard, starting over Stuart Skinner, faced just 15 shots, stopping 14 (.923 SV%) to earn the win. What else can you say about Pickard's performance? He was outstanding, and his near-perfect positional play made Canucks hesitant to shoot through the whole game. Edmonton’s shot advantage and 1/3 power play outshone Vancouver’s 0/2 man-advantage, which struggled to generate chances.
What’s Next
As the Oilers prepare for a grueling 5-game Eastern Conference road trip (Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Red Wings, Senators, starting October 14 at Madison Square Garden), this win sets a fiery tone. Vancouver, now 1-1-0, heads home to regroup after a chippy game reminiscent of their 3-2 preseason win over Edmonton on October 3. NHL.com | ESPN
This review of game two written by Mack McColl and assisted by Grok by xAI
