The Edmonton Oilers celebrated their first victory of the season on March 15, 2025, defeating the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 in a match held at Rogers Place in Edmonton. The decisive performance unfolded in the second period, where both Noah Philp and Andrew Mangiapane scored, contributing significantly to the Oilers’ success.
The scoring began with Philp, who netted his first NHL goal with just 7:39 remaining in the second period. He received a precise pass from Kasperi Kapanen and delivered a swift snapshot past Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko. Mangiapane, playing in his 500th NHL game, doubled the Oilers’ lead shortly before the end of the second period. He capitalized on an errant pass from Filip Chytil during a 4-on-4 situation, extending the score to 2-0 with only 51 seconds left in the period.
In the final moments of the game, Leon Draisaitl sealed the victory for Edmonton with a short-handed goal, converting a long backhanded shot into an empty net at 1:13 remaining. Draisaitl’s goal marked a commanding finish for the Oilers, who displayed a strong defense throughout the match.
The Canucks managed to find the net early in the third period, with Brock Boeser scoring just 47 seconds in. This goal was significant for Quinn Hughes, who provided the assist, marking his 410th career point and surpassing Alex Edler for the most points by a defenseman in Canucks history. Hughes achieved this milestone in 435 games, a notably quicker pace than Edler’s 925 games with Vancouver.
Despite the Canucks’ efforts, including Demko’s impressive 34 saves, they could not score again, concluding the match with a final score of 3-1.
The Oilers will look to build on this momentum as they prepare to face the New York Rangers on March 17, while the Canucks will host the St. Louis Blues on March 19.
This victory highlights the Oilers’ potential as they aim for a successful season ahead, showcasing both new talents and seasoned players contributing to the team’s performance.
