’s power-play goal that started the Canucks back from a 2-0 deficit at 12:28 caromed off the stick of Oiler Ryan Nugent-Hopkins before snaking through Tanner Pearson’s screen.
The message after 40 minutes was, Hughes said: “Just that we have an opportunity to come back and have a good start to the season. I guess send a message, not only to them but to our group, that we have a good team and we can come back from behind like that.” In the shootout, the Canuck goalie stuffed McDavid and Draisaitl, who generated a power-play goal in the second period but finished with just two shots apiece on target.
Vancouver had a solid first 10 minutes, outshooting Edmonton 8-5 and generating a few scoring chances, including a breakaway for Horvat that the captain fired off the outside of the post. The Canucks manufactured a similarly dominant spell in the second period, outshooting the Oilers 8-1 and generating excellent scoring chances for Horvat and Kyle Burroughs.