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Canucks Edge Oilers with Special Teams Triumph

In a closely contested match, the Vancouver Canucks secured a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, thanks in part to a standout performance from Quinn Hughes, who netted two goals. This win was significant for the Canucks, who have faced a challenging stretch, entering the game with only one win in their last seven outings.

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch pinpointed the special teams as a pivotal factor in the outcome. “Two penalties, two power-play goals, that was a big part of it,” he noted. “We were able to get one power-play goal, and they get two, and we lose by one — and usually special teams are the difference in a hockey game.”

Danton Heinen also contributed to the Canucks’ scoring, adding a goal, while J.T. Miller assisted on two of the goals. The Canucks improved to a record of 20-15-10 after this win.

On the other side, the Oilers, now with a record of 29-13-3, saw two goals from star forward Leon Draisaitl in the second period but were unable to find a third goal to level the game. Draisaitl currently leads the NHL with 33 goals this season.

In net, Vancouver’s Thatcher Demko had a solid outing, stopping 13 of 15 shots, while Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner made 24 saves. This defeat broke the Oilers’ four-game winning streak; however, they maintain an impressive record of 8-2-0 in their last ten games.

Postgame Tensions Rise

As the final seconds of the game ticked down, tensions flared when Connor McDavid became entangled with Canucks winger Conor Garland. This incident escalated into a series of scrums involving several players, resulting in match penalties for both McDavid and Vancouver defenceman Tyler Myers.

Draisaitl commented on the heated conclusion, saying, “It’s hockey, it happens, it’s intense — it’s just the way it goes sometimes.”

Key Takeaways

For the Canucks, this victory marked a resurgence in their power play, which had struggled previously. After going four games without scoring a power-play goal, they converted on two out of four opportunities against the Oilers. The Canucks’ power play was ranked 15th in the league, operating at 21 percent prior to this game.

Meanwhile, the Oilers demonstrated resilience, as rallying from deficits has become a hallmark for the team. They previously overcame three-goal deficits to win their last two games, highlighting their capacity for comebacks.

Key Moments

The pivotal moment of the game came when Hughes fired a slap shot from the faceoff circle with less than two minutes remaining in the first period. The puck deflected off Oilers forward Adam Henrique and found its way past Skinner, establishing a commanding 3-0 lead for the Canucks.

Key Stat

Quinn Hughes made history by becoming the first Canucks defenseman in almost a decade to score two power-play goals in a game, with Yannick Weber last achieving this milestone on April 9, 2015.

Looking Ahead

The Edmonton Oilers will host the Washington Capitals in their next matchup on Tuesday, aiming to bounce back. The Vancouver Canucks will also be in action on the same day, wrapping up a three-game homestand against the Buffalo Sabres.

Source
globalnews.ca