WHAT'S NEXT
The Oilers complete the second of a back-to-back tomorrow night against the Calgary Flames. 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.
POST-GAME UPDATES
Inside The Oilers Blog
The Canucks went 2-for-6 on the power play, netting twice with the man advantage in the second period and outshooting the Oilers 11-4 in a defining 10-minute spell of the middle frame.
Cooper Marody's first-period goal and first of the pre-season that equalized the score two minutes after Brogan Rafferty's opening goal was the lone Oilers action of the tune-up.
"A lot of the bounces we didn't like, and all you can do right now is watch the tape, reflect on what you can do better, and come to the rink prepared tomorrow to work hard and bounce back," Marody said.
Goaltender Mikko Koskinen allowed four goals on 23 shots over two periods of action before giving way in the third to Shane Starrett, who made nine saves on 11 shots sent his way.
The Oilers rolled out a roster loaded with players looking to make an impression against a Canucks side flush with NHL experience up front in Bo Horvat, Sven Baertschi and Jay Beagle, who each added a goal in tonight's contest.
"It was a great evaluation game right there," Oilers Head Coach Dave Tippett said. "I thought we were alright in the first period, and then they got that third goal and our paced slowed down. You learn a lot about players in games like that."
The Canucks struck early off a faceoff win by J.T. Miller that was hammered top shelf over the left shoulder of Koskinen by Rafferty four minutes into the contest.
But it took the Oilers just 2:13 to level things up from Marody banging a net-side rebound over the goal line past Vancouver netminder Jacob Markstrom. Oscar Klefbom notched his third assist of the pre-season, with Alex Chiasson earning the other helper.