The Oilers beat the Canucks 9-7 as both teams take lessons from a high-scoring series

Neither the Vancouver Canucks nor the Edmonton Oilers were fully satisfied with their first two games of the season. Their high-scoring home-and-home series entertained hockey fans and gave players and coaches lessons for the long NHL season ahead. Edmonton won Thursday’s game 9-7 in Vancouver, after the Canucks took Tuesday’s game 6-5 in overtime in Edmonton.

Oilers captain Connor McDavid said no one was in the room celebrating the win. The team knows its play has to look different, he said, though the first 40 minutes showed what it could and should look like much of the time. Head coach Mike Babcock said Edmonton gave up fewer odd-man rushes in the rematch. Although the Oilers did not allow many chances, the puck still ended up in their net. He was pleased to take three of a possible four points across the two games, but said his team had many examples of what it needs to improve. He liked the first period and half of the second, but not the rest; the team needs to learn to play a full 60 minutes rather than 30.

The teams entered the new NHL season in different positions. Edmonton, now 1-0-1, is aiming to reach the Stanley Cup final for the third time in four years. Vancouver, at 1-1-0, is rebuilding with a new front office and head coach and a focus on laying a foundation for the future. Their series also shared defensive struggles and multi-point performances from star players. Babcock said he saw a group that knew how to play the right way, followed by one that did not; the team now has to find a way to repeat the good stretches.

Edmonton went up 4-0 in the first period and led 8-2 midway through the second before Vancouver scored four straight goals to cut the deficit to two. McDavid had a goal and four assists. Leon Draisaitl scored twice and added an assist, while Evan Bouchard recorded three points, with one goal and two assists.

Canucks centre Paul Cotter said teams need to simplify when an opponent starts scoring. Vancouver should make its opponents pay physically whenever it gets the chance, he said, adding that the arena should become a place visiting players hate to play, whether they win or lose. The Canucks did not create that feeling Thursday.

Arshdeep Bains sparked Vancouver’s rally with a diving rebound goal with 0.1 seconds left in the second period, making it 8-3 heading into the third. Canucks winger Brock Boeser said Edmonton was hungrier in the first period and won puck battles while Vancouver was unprepared. He was glad the team fought back, but said it cannot let a game reach that point.

Vancouver head coach Manny Malhotra said players can shift momentum against a high-powered offence by being more physical and aggressive, moving their feet and applying pressure in the opponent’s end.