Get the best of Vancouver in your inbox, every Tuesday and Thursday. Sign up for our free newsletter.
Well, that was something.
Will the first game of the Vancouver Canucks’ 2026-27 season also be its most exciting? Probably not, just based on the odds. But also, that one is going to be tough to beat.
We just witnessed the Canucks scoring multiple goals on a pissed-off Edmonton Oilers squad that already looked like it wanted to take starting goalie Tristan Jarry out behind the woodshed after years of squandering its Stanley Cup chances in large part thanks to goaltending.
The Canucks may have already showed the Oilers what they needed to see—that Jarry just isn’t the answer. The Canucks scored an astounding six goals in an eventual 6-5 overtime win against Edmonton as the visitors went up 5-2 at one point thanks to some horrific Edmonton defending and weak play by Jarry.
The Oilers battled back to score three goals and bring the game to overtime before free agent acquisition Paul Cotter played hero, scoring his second goal of the night.
https://x.com/TheStanchion/status/2105158236311814339
Yeah. Wow.
Here’s our Straight recap.
Things we loved:
The offseason acquisitions seem like they’ll integrate nicely. Cotter was fantastic. Brendan Gallagher gave it his all and Jamie Oleksiak was a force. Max Sasson, who helped create the winning goal and scored another of his own, was terrific and could really boost this team if he’s going to play to that level every night. Fast, fun, and fiery, Sasson is on track to be a fan favourite. Kevin Lankinen could really make the Canucks’ record a lot better than it has any right to be if he’s going to play like that. Forward Elias Pettersson seemed particularly fired up. Yes, scoring a (nice) goal was huge. Being the first to the pile to celebrate the OT winner might have even been bigger. No comparison here. We love our cool ass coach.
Things we didn’t love:
Related to that last note: man, it just sucks to see Mike Babcock back on a bench. Sure, there is a little solace and humour to be found in him coaching the Oilers. (I mean seriously, I have some friends who are from Edmonton and I love them… but even they have full knowledge that they are the bad guys.) But legitimately, it’s mostly sad to see him yapping around behind the bench again. The guy should not be in the NHL. This terrible call on Linus Karlsson. Those horrific vests that they gave out to the Oilers fans. Yuck. Maybe they should separate from Canada. Yeah, it’s pretty tough to see Vasili Podkolzin turn into a legitimate player for a rival. And you just knew he was scoring that tying goal after scoring earlier as well. It is never going to get easier to understand how and why the Canucks essentially gave up the former 10th overall pick for nothing.
Funniest moment:
It had to be the Oilers’ crowd loudly cheering for a Jarry save after a run in which he let in a few in a row. At least the fans have some humour left in them.
Three stars:
1. Evan Bouchard
Even in a loss, the guy put up five points. Give him his flowers.
2. Paul Cotter
Two goals is a hell of a way to make a debut.
3. Max Sasson
And a goal and an assist is a hell of a way to stay in the NHL.
Best quote:
“That was ridiculous.” – Oilers head coach Mike Babcock.