Canucks Return Home for a Fast Oilers Rematch
A quick turnaround after a wild opener
The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks meet again on Thursday, October 1, just two days after their chaotic season opener. This time, the game shifts to Rogers Arena, where Vancouver will raise the curtain on its 2026-27 home schedule.
Vancouver arrives with the edge after a 6-5 overtime win in Edmonton. The Canucks built a three-goal cushion, watched it disappear, then finished the night with Paul Cotter’s goal 1:59 into overtime.
The rematch now asks a simple question: can Edmonton clean up the mistakes and get even, or will Vancouver start its home slate with another divisional win?
What the first meeting revealed
Tuesday’s game looked like it was slipping away from Edmonton before the Oilers stormed back. Vancouver carried a 5-2 lead into the third period, but the Oilers scored three times to force overtime and nearly completed a stunning comeback.
The final result was a warning for both teams. Vancouver proved it can score enough to beat one of the league’s most explosive offenses, but it also showed how fragile a lead can become against Edmonton.
- Final score: Vancouver 6, Edmonton 5 in overtime
- Winning goal: Paul Cotter at 1:59 of overtime
- Big turnaround: Edmonton erased a three-goal deficit in the third period
Two players shaped the opener
Edmonton’s biggest bright spot was not Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. It was Evan Bouchard, who delivered a hat trick and finished with five points. That made him the first defenseman in NHL history to post five points in a season opener.
Bouchard’s performance changes how Vancouver has to defend Edmonton. The Canucks cannot load up only on McDavid and Draisaitl when a defenseman is driving that much offense from the blue line.
On the Vancouver side, Cotter became the difference-maker. He scored twice, including the overtime winner, and gave the Canucks the finish they needed after letting the lead shrink.
- Evan Bouchard: hat trick, five points, historic opener
- Paul Cotter: two goals, including the OT winner
- Connor McDavid: still the main threat Edmonton brings every night
What each team must fix on Thursday
Edmonton’s concern is obvious: the Oilers gave up six goals and spent too much of the night chasing the game. They showed enough scoring punch to make a comeback possible, but their defensive play left too much room for Vancouver.
A steadier start would go a long way. If the Oilers fall behind early again, they may not get the same chance to recover.
Vancouver has a different problem. The Canucks won, but they nearly wasted a 5-2 lead. Against an offense with McDavid, Draisaitl, and Bouchard, that kind of game management can turn risky fast.
The home opener adds extra weight to the matchup. Rogers Arena should have a different energy than Tuesday’s game in Edmonton, and Vancouver will want to feed off that while protecting the lead better than it did in the opener.
Thursday’s rematch will likely come down to three things: defending cleaner, handling special teams with discipline, and avoiding a sloppy first period. Edmonton wants revenge. Vancouver wants to prove the first win was no fluke.
