Paul Cotter scored twice, including the overtime winner, as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Edmonton Oilers 6-5 in a wild season opener at Rogers Place on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
Cotter finished the game at 1:59 of overtime, converting a backhand chance after Max Sasson helped keep the play alive and set up the decisive goal.
Table of Contents
Paul Cotter delivers twice for Vancouver
Cotter opened the scoring at 9:51 of the first period with a shorthanded goal, giving Vancouver an early lead against an Edmonton team playing its home opener.
Evan Bouchard answered for the Oilers before Marco Rossi restored Vancouver’s advantage early in the second period.
Bouchard scored again later in the frame to send the teams into the third period tied 2-2.
The Canucks then created separation with three goals in the opening 5:15 of the third period.
Jonathan Lekkerimäki put Vancouver ahead, Max Sasson added another less than two minutes later and Elias Pettersson extended the lead to 5-2 on a power-play tip-in.
Oilers rally but Cotter ends the comeback
Edmonton refused to go quietly.
Vasily Podkolzin scored twice in the third period, while Bouchard completed his hat trick at 9:20 to bring the Oilers within one goal.
Edmonton’s final push included a power-play goal from Podkolzin with 43 seconds remaining in regulation, tying the game 5-5 and forcing overtime.
The comeback ultimately fell short when Cotter scored his second goal of the night in the extra period.
The result gave Vancouver two points to begin the regular season, while Edmonton opened the campaign with a single point from the overtime loss.
A high-event opening night
The game featured 11 goals, a hat trick from Bouchard and multi-goal performances from Cotter and Podkolzin.
Edmonton held a 37-23 advantage in shots on goal, but Vancouver made the most of its opportunities and scored three times on special teams, including Cotter’s opening shorthanded goal and Pettersson’s power-play marker.
Kevin Lankinen stopped 32 of Edmonton’s 37 shots for the Canucks.
At the other end, Edmonton goaltender Tristan Jarry allowed six goals on 23 shots in his regular-season debut with the Oilers.
For Vancouver, the win provided an immediate boost at the start of a season that began with a difficult road test against one of the Pacific Division’s established contenders.
Canucks and Oilers meet again Thursday
The teams will not have to wait long for a rematch.
Vancouver is scheduled to host Edmonton at Rogers Arena on Thursday, October 1, 2026, in the Canucks’ home opener.
The two clubs are scheduled to meet four times during the 2026-27 regular season, with additional games set for November 7 and March 21.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score between the Canucks and Oilers?
The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Edmonton Oilers 6-5 in overtime on September 29, 2026.
Who scored the overtime winner?
Paul Cotter scored the overtime winner for Vancouver at 1:59 of the extra period.
How many goals did Paul Cotter score?
Cotter scored twice, opening the game with a shorthanded goal before winning it in overtime.
Who scored a hat trick for Edmonton?
Evan Bouchard scored three goals for the Oilers.
When is the next Canucks-Oilers game?
The teams are scheduled to meet again on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
Fact-Checked: Key game details were checked against NHL scheduling information and the available official team records, with the final score and scoring sequence cross-verified against the NHL Gamecenter record. ([nhl.com](https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-announces-2026-27-regular-season-schedule?utm_source=openai))
Disclaimer: Game statistics and scheduling details reflect the information available after the September 29, 2026 final and may be updated if the NHL corrects its official record.