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The Oilers return home where they will play the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. The game can be seen on Sportsnet West and heard on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED. Puck drop is 7:08 p.m. MST.
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Special teams were the difference-maker in a big way as the Canucks potted three of their four tallies with the man-advantage.
In the first of four meetings between the division rivals, there was no shortage of chances for the either side to open the game on Sunday night with two teams chock-full of speed. Both goaltenders stood tall to keep things quiet early until the Oilers got things going offensively two minutes into the second period.
Oilers forward Jujhar Khaira was surrounded in the slot but managed a backhand out of a crowd that somehow found Nugent-Hopkins all alone and the centreman buried a wrister past Jacob Markstrom for his 11th goal of the season. But it was the Vancouver power play that stole the show for the remainder of the period.
After the Oilers penalty kill went a perfect 5-for-5 on Friday against Philadelphia, it was put to the test again on Sunday and had a rougher go of things. The Oilers took three minor penalties in the middle frame and both Alex Edler and Brock Boeser were able to solve Koskinen on back-to-back power plays to give Vancouver the 2-1 lead with five minutes remaining in the second.
The Canucks next PP marker came at 17:18 of the 3rd when Adam Larsson cleared a puck over the glass and sat for delay of game. Canucks rookie sensation Elias Pettersson potted a perfectly placed top-shelf laser over Koskinen's left shoulder to give the Canucks the 3-1 edge on the ensuing power play that would stand as the game-winner.
Oilers Head Coach Ken Hitchcock was pleased with the Oilers jump to open the game, but felt the team's energy level fell in the second half.
I thought over the last half of the game, (the Canucks) ability to defend was much greater than ours was to score," said the Oilers bench boss. "They made it really hard on us."
Still without Kris Russell and Oscar Klefbom (out indefinitely after finger surgery) on the blueline, the Oilers D corps were tested by a speedy Canucks squad, and were up to the task 5-on-5, but felt the effects on the PK with one of their best shot-blockers in Russell sidelined.
"We showed them we could outplay them 5-on-5 but unfortunately we just took too man penalties and they started to get some momentum," said Nugent-Hopkins of the team's discipline.
One of the mainstays on the Oilers penalty kill in Kyle Brodziak echoed that sentiment.
