The Vancouver Canucks scored three power play goals on the way to a 4-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers Sunday night at Rogers Arena.
“I thought over the last half of the game, their ability to defend was much greater than ours was to score,” head coach Ken Hitchcock said after the match-up.
LISTEN BELOW: Ken Hitchcock
The Oilers opened the scoring early in the second period. Jujhar Khaira delivered a behind-the-back pass to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who fired a shot past Jacob Markstrom for his 11th goal of the season.
The Canucks came back with two power play goals less than three minutes apart. Alex Edler bashed a point shot past Mikko Koskinen, then Brock Boeser scored off the rush with a wrist shot.
Elias Pettersson ripped a shot over Koskinen’s glove for another power play goal early in the third. Alex Chiasson sniped his 15th of the season with 4:10 left; one-timing a pass from Connor McDavid. Bo Horvat sealed it for Vancouver with an empty net goal with 1:42 left.
“It’s a little disappointing that we didn’t come out with the two points, but we’ve got to move on and have a big game in a couple of days,” Nugent-Hopkins said.
LISTEN BELOW: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
McDavid extended his point streak to seven games.
The Canucks went 3/5 on the power play while the Oilers were 0/1. Hitchcock wasn’t pleased with how the Canucks defended McDavid.
“We’re a league that’s supposed to showcase our top players. You don’t to give them all the freedom, but the tug-of-war on him was absolutely ridiculous today,” said Hitchcock. “He’s not allowed to play give-and-go. It’s give-and-hold.”
The Oilers, 18-13-3, will host St. Louis on Tuesday.