Noah Philp scored his first NHL goal, helping the Edmonton Oilers to a 3-1 win over the visiting Vancouver Canucks in NHL action Saturday at Rogers Place.
Philp, a 27-year-old from Canmore, Alta., Andrew Mangiapane and Leon Draisaitl scored for the Oilers (1-0-1). Brock Boeser replied for the Canucks (1-1-0). Calvin Pickard made 14 saves to earn the goaltending win. Vancouver netminder Thatcher Demko was stellar throughout, keeping the Canucks in the game. He finished with 34 saves.
The teams played through a scoreless first period, with Demko standing tall as the Oilers held a 14-4 shots on goal advantage.
Philp opened the scoring at 12:21 of the middle frame, taking a pass from Kasperi Kapanen and beating Demko.
Mangiapane scored the eventual game-winner at 19:09 of the period, capitalizing on a giveaway by Vancouver's Filip Chytil and firing a shot from the slot past Demko on the short side.
Shots on goal after 40 minutes were 28-9 Oilers, with Edmonton holding a 12-0 advantage in high-danger chances.
The Canucks pulled within 2-1 just 47 seconds into the third, when Boeser, on his off-wing, wheeled and deposited a shot past Pickard. Vancouver captain Quinn Hughes picked up an assist on the play and set a team record for most career points by a defenceman with 410. Hughes set the mark in his 435th game. Previous record-holder Alex Edler had 409 points in 925 games as a Canuck.
Draisaitl iced things with an empty-net goal at 18:47.
NOTES: The Canucks are now 114-123-35 against the Oilers. The teams don't meet again until Jan. 17 in Vancouver... Teddy Blueger (lower body), Guillaume Brisebois (lower body) and Nils Hoglander (lower body) remain on the injured list for Vancouver... Both teams were scoreless on the power play, Vancouver with two chances and Edmonton with five... The Canucks host St. Louis Monday (4:30 p.m), while the Oilers visit the New York Rangers on Tuesday.
