The Edmonton Oilers achieved their first victory of the season by defeating the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 on March 15, 2025. The game, held at Rogers Place in Edmonton, highlighted strong performances from both teams but ultimately showcased the Oilers’ ability to capitalize on opportunities.
Noah Philp and Andrew Mangiapane both struck in the second period, propelling the Oilers to a lead that they maintained throughout the match. Philp opened the scoring with a well-placed snapshot, beating Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko with 7:39 remaining in the period. This marked Philp’s first goal in the NHL, coming in his 17th career game.
Mangiapane, playing in his 500th NHL game, extended the Oilers’ lead to 2-0 just before the end of the second period. He intercepted a pass from Filip Chytil during a 4-on-4 situation and swiftly converted it into a goal with only 51 seconds left in the period. This goal was Mangiapane’s second in as many games since joining Edmonton.
As the third period began, Brock Boeser managed to get the Canucks on the board just 47 seconds in, reducing the deficit to 2-1. Boeser’s goal was assisted by Quinn Hughes, who reached a significant milestone in his career by surpassing Alex Edler for the most points by a defenseman in Canucks history. Hughes has amassed 410 career points in just 435 games, a remarkable achievement considering Edler took 925 games to reach the same tally.
Leon Draisaitl sealed the victory for the Oilers by scoring a short-handed empty-net goal with 1:13 left in the game, bringing the final score to 3-1. Goalie Calvin Pickard played a crucial role in the win, making 14 saves throughout the match. In contrast, Demko faced a barrage of shots, stopping 34 attempts from the Oilers but unable to secure a win.
Looking ahead, the Canucks will host the St. Louis Blues on Monday, while the Oilers will travel to New York to face the Rangers on Tuesday. Both teams will be eager to build on their performances as the season progresses.
