Cotter’s OT winner caps two-goal night as Canucks outlast Oilers 6-5 to start season

Prime Minister Mark Carney was in attendance for the Oilers’ home opener at Rogers Place.

Entering the third period tied 2-2, Pettersson capped a three-goal run by the Canucks 5:15 into the frame to swiftly put the Canucks ahead 5-2.

But Podkolzin scored at 8:56, followed by Bouchard’s third of the night 24 seconds later and Podkolzin’s second of the night with 43 seconds left in regulation to send it to extra time.

TAKEAWAYS

Canucks: Cotter, who joined Vancouver as a free agent after spending the last two seasons in New Jersey, became the first player in Canucks history to score a short-handed goal in his debut with the team.

Oilers: Bouchard became the first defenceman in Oilers history to record a multi-goal game in a season opener and just the third defenceman in NHL history to score a hat trick in a seasonal lid-lifter. He is also just the third blueliner in the last 30 years to have a four-point game to open the season.

KEY MOMENT

After the Oilers crawled back from a three-goal deficit to force overtime, Cotter scored 1:59 into extra time, lifting in a backhand.

KEY STAT

Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra became the fourth person to represent the Canucks as both a player and head coach in his career, following in the footsteps of Marc Crawford, Pat Quinn and Orland Kurtenbach.

UP NEXT

The two teams have a rematch in Vancouver on Thursday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 29, 2026.

Shane Jones, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Cotter’s OT winner caps two-goal night as Canucks outlast Oilers 6-5 to start season

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