Edmonton Oilers stumble early and lose to Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks scored four first-period goals on their way to a 4-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers Thursday night at Rogers Place.

“Anything we gave them in the first, they seemed to capitalize on,” Oilers captain Connor McDavid said after the game.

LISTEN BELOW: Connor McDavid

The Oilers have lost four straight.

The Canucks scored on their first two shots of the game to lead 2-0 just 6:25 in. Tyler Motte and Brock Boeser had the goals.

The Oilers came back with a power play marker from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. However, Vancouver scored on their final two shots of the period as well, getting tallies from Elias Pettersson and Antoine Roussel in the final 1:12 of the period.

Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen allowed four goals on six shots and was replaced by Cam Talbot to start the second.

LISTEN BELOW: Ken Hitchcock

The Oilers carried the play in the second period with Leon Draisaitl picking the corner for a power play goal. Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi hit the post on a deflection, and McDavid missed on a backhand attempt on a breakaway.

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“If I can find a way to score that, maybe we come back in that game,” McDavid said.

“We got it to two, and if we got it to three I thought we were going to win the hockey game,” Hitchcock said.

Talbot held the Oilers in it by stopping two two-on-ones in less than 30 seconds halfway through the third, as he turned away the Canucks’ Jake Virtanen and Motte. However, the Oilers couldn’t break through against Jacob Markstrom, who finished the night with 30 saves.

“Lately we’ve been playing really well. Everybody’s working. Everybody is dialed in. We’ve got to do that every night to be successful,” Pettersson said. “We believe in ourselves, we believe in our teammates and our game-plan.” ​

Oilers forward Alex Chiasson left the game in the first period and didn’t return after taking a shot off the foot.

“The X-ray was negative but he’s very sore right now,” Hitchcock said.

Talbot stopped all 14 shots he faced. McDavid had two assists. Draisaitl had a goal and an assist.

The Oilers (18-16-3) will host San Jose on Saturday afternoon and try to stop a four-game losing skid.

–With files from 630 CHED’s Brenden Escott and Scott Johnston

Watch below: Some videos from Global News’ coverage of the Edmonton Oilers’ 2018-19 season.

1:54 Oilers Mikko Koskinen prepares for first Christmas in Canada

• Oilers Mikko Koskinen prepares for first Christmas in Canada
• Puljujarvi skates on McDavid’s line at Oilers practice on Thursday
• Ken Hitchcock talks about what it’s like coaching in Edmonton
• Ken Hitchcock named 8th Edmonton Oilers head coach since 2009
• Todd McLellan fired, Ken Hitchcock takes over as Edmonton Oilers head coach
• Todd McLellan out as Edmonton Oilers’ head coach, Ken Hitchcock in
• Oilers trade Ryan Strome to Rangers for Ryan Spooner
• Oilers appear to be changing top line ahead of game against Habs
• Connor McDavid and the Oilers ready for 2018-19 season home opener

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