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OILERS TODAY | Tom Gazzola wraps up the game from Vancouver
POST-GAME RAW | Draisaitl
POST-GAME RAW | Lucic
POST-GAME RAW | Brossoit
POST-GAME RAW | Oilers head coach Todd McLellan
WHAT'S NEXT
Edmonton hosts the Winnipeg Jets on Monday at 7 PM MDT. You can view the game on Sportsnet Oilers or listen on 630 CHED and the Oilers Radio Network.
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"At the end of the day, our power play just hasn't been good enough," said Oilers winger Milan Lucic. "Last game we weren't able to get anything going on two power-play opportunities, I know we get a goal here tonight but we had another chance to tie the game up and just not enough. Especially, the first unit there. Just not enough volume as far as our power-play unit goes.
"I'm sure that's something the coaches will have us work on tomorrow so we can sharpen up."
Edmonton got on the board early, courtesy of Kris Russell's first goal of the season. Russell took a feed from former Canuck Zack Kassian and fluttered a shot past Jacob Markstrom at 1:08 of the opening period. The Vancouver native Lucic recorded the second assist on the tally.
The Canucks tied the game on their first power play of the night, thanks to an impressive drive to the net by Horvat. The Canucks centre beat Cam Talbot to even the game at 7:35 of the first. Ben Hutton and Markstrom recorded the helpers.
Vancouver kept their momentum going with another goal at 9:29 of the first, giving them their first lead of the night. Brandon Sutter, left alone in the slot, lifted a shot past Talbot to make it 2-1.
Horvat made it a 3-1 game 33 seconds into the middle frame. He wrapped around the net and buried the puck underneath Talbot for his second of the night. Talbot was pulled in favour of Laurent Brossoit after the goal.
Brossoit made a huge save on a breakaway chance at 13:12 of the second period. He was superb the rest of the way, finishing the game with 19 saves on 19 shots. Perhaps his biggest save of the night came on a shorthanded breakaway with less than six minutes to go.
"He played really good," said Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl. "He gave us a chance to come back. Too bad we couldn't do that for him tonight."
"I felt pretty good out there," said Brossoit. "I was seeing the puck and gave us a chance, but without the win it's still discouraging."
Edmonton began their rally at 8:09 of the third. Connor McDavid drew a penalty on a partial break giving the Oilers a big power-play opportunity. On that man advantage, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins buried a backdoor shot, assisted by Pat Maroon and Russell.
Despite getting another chance on the man advantage late, Edmonton could not convert the equalizer.
"We don't want to play that type of game," said Draisaitl. "We don't want to count on the last couple of minutes. We want to play the full 60 and we didn't do that tonight. They played a tight game, they played a good game so I guess you could say they did enough to win tonight."
Edmonton outshot Vancouver 14-8 in the third and 35-26 for the game. The Oilers (1-1-0) will try to rebound when they host the Winnipeg Jets on Monday night at Rogers Place.
