- Paul Cotter scored twice in his Canucks debut, including the overtime winner
- Evan Bouchard had a five-point night as Edmonton erased a three-goal deficit
- Read below for the full breakdown and video of the goals
Paul Cotter picked a good night to introduce himself to Vancouver.
The forward scored twice in his Canucks debut Tuesday, including the overtime winner 1:59 into the extra frame, as Vancouver held off a wild Oilers comeback for a 6-5 win at Rogers Place. Cotter outworked Ryan Shea along the boards, got up first and took a feed from Max Sasson before beating Tristan Jarry on the backhand.
Watch the Cotter overtime winner:
It spoiled Edmonton’s home opener, and it capped a strong first night for a player the Canucks signed to a one-year, $2.15 million deal in July after the Devils chose not to qualify him.
Cotter also opened the scoring in the first period. Leon Draisaitl had a one-timer blocked on an Oilers power play, the puck landed on Cotter’s stick, and he ripped a shorthanded goal top shelf on a 2-on-1. That was Vancouver’s first goal of the 2026-27 season.
The Canucks looked to have this one put away early in the third. Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Sasson and Elias Pettersson scored in a span of 4:05 to make it 5-2, and Jarry heard it from the home crowd.
Evan Bouchard wasn’t having it. Vasily Podkolzin scored from the crease at 8:56, and Bouchard completed his hat trick just 24 seconds later with a snap shot through traffic that went in off the crossbar.
Check out the Bouchard hat trick:
Podkolzin, a former Canuck, then tied it on the power play with 42.5 seconds left in regulation. Draisaitl found him in the left circle and he snapped it over Kevin Lankinen’s shoulder.
Take a look at the Podkolzin equalizer:
Bouchard finished with three goals and two assists in 25:41 of ice time. Connor McDavid added two helpers, and Edmonton outshot Vancouver 37-23 while playing without Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who is dealing with an injury that Mike Babcock says could keep him out two weeks.
Lankinen made 32 saves for the win, including a behind-the-back swat of a puck in midair during the third. Jarry stopped 17 of 23 shots, though he did rob Zeev Buium with a glove save in overtime before Cotter ended it.
Cotter had nine goals and 15 points in 79 games with New Jersey last season. One game into his Canucks career, he already owns the first goal of their season and the winner.
