If you are wondering what to make of the Vancouver Canucks after Thursday's 9-7 carnival-ride loss to the Edmonton Oilers, you are not alone.
The Oilers almost gave away an 8-2 lead Thursday night before doing enough to beat the Canucks. After two games, it’s clear Mike Babcock has plenty of work ahead when it comes to team defence.
Gets in on goal fest.
Scored a goal and added two hits in Thursday's 9-7 win over the Canucks.
Analysis: Michaels is filling a third-line role in the absences of Jason Dickinson (foot) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (lower body). The goal was Michaels' first at the NHL level in just his second game. The 24-year-old forward was a solid producer in the NCAA, earning 26 points in 39 games with Western Michigan University in 2025-26. Michaels will need to perform well to keep his place in the NHL once the Oilers get healthy.
Buries goal in win.
Scored a goal and went plus-3 in Thursday's 9-7 win over the Canucks.
Analysis: Shea has a goal, an assist and a plus-2 rating over two contests with the Oilers. He broke out to the tune of 35 points and a plus-30 rating over 80 regular-season games with the Penguins last year, establishing himself as a top-four option before signing a five-year deal with the Oilers. Edmonton's defense is still a work in progress, but Shea has been good enough and should have freedom to contribute on offense with a steadfast defender in Connor Murphy as his partner.
Finds twine in high-scoring win.
Scored a goal on two shots, added two PIM and logged two hits in Thursday's 9-7 win over the Canucks.
Analysis: Frederic has handled fourth-line minutes so far this season, and his spot in the lineup should be safe while the Oilers are battling a handful of injuries. The winger has a goal, three shots on net and six hits over two contests. Frederic is coming off an abysmal seven-point performance in 74 regular-season outings last year, so there's almost nowhere to go but up. He'll be a better source of hits and PIM than offense, but he should still be able to get into the 15-20 point range if he plays regularly.
+1 faceoffs lost on Sep 30.
-1 faceoffs lost on Sep 30.
Shines on special teams.
Scored a shorthanded goal and added a power-play assist in Thursday's 9-7 win over the Canucks.
Analysis: Kapanen has a shot to see meaningful power-play time while both of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (lower body) and Zach Hyman (undisclosed) are out. After a scoreless performance in the opener, Kapanen got on the scoresheet with his standout special-teams effort Thursday. He's added four shots on net, five hits and a minus-4 rating across two contests this season. Kapanen should slip no lower than the third line once the Oilers are healthy, giving him some deep-league appeal as a physical forward.
Taking advantage of opportunity.
Scored a goal on four shots, added an assist, went plus-3 and logged two hits in Thursday's 9-7 win over the Canucks.
Analysis: Podkolzin's pair of points came on the power play. The 25-year-old winger is cashing in on a golden opportunity as a top-line winger -- he shared his even-strength ice time with both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in this contest. Podkolzin is poised to stay in that spot while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (lower body) and Zach Hyman (undisclosed) are on the mend. Through two games, Podkolzin has four points (three on the power play), 11 shots on net and seven hits.
Sets another record.
Scored a goal on four shots, added two assists and went plus-3 in Thursday's 9-7 win over the Canucks.
Analysis: Per Sportsnet, Bouchard's eight points are the most by any NHL defensemen in his team's first two games since Harry Cameron had seven points in the Toronto Arenas' first two contests in 1917. Considering Bouchard has earned just a single power-play assist, it's safe to say he's not even maximizing his opportunities yet. The Oilers' offense won't hum at this pace all year, but Bouchard has set off to a good start as he aims for a third point-per-game campaign in four years. Don't let Bouchard out of your fantasy lineup -- he's proving last year was no fluke.
Showcases elite offense with five points.
Scored a shorthanded goal and added four assists, including two on the power play, in Thursday's 9-7 win over the Canucks.
Analysis: McDavid's two assists in Tuesday's opener were a nice appetizer, but he delivered the main course in the second game of the year. The 29-year-old superstar had a trio of five-point efforts in the 2025-26 regular season, but he's able to pop off at any moment. With the Oilers' offense starting the year hot, fantasy managers are getting instant rewards if they were lucky enough to draft McDavid. He has seven points, three shots on net and a plus-5 rating through two contests.
Three-point burst in win.
Scored twice on five shots, dished an assist and went plus-3 in Thursday's 9-7 win over the Canucks.
Analysis: One of Draisaitl's goals came on the power play. The 30-year-old played alongside Connor McDavid in this contest as the injury-riddled Oilers opted to put one dominant line together. The offense is humming along so far, and Draisaitl has four points and 10 shots on net over two contests. He's a lock to be in fantasy lineups and should continue to produce at a high level as long as he can avoid injuries.
Wins ugly in season debut.
Allowed seven goals on 22 shots in Thursday's 9-7 win over the Canucks.
Analysis: Levi had a great chance to stake a claim to the Oilers' No. 1 job, but he looked bad under low pressure for two periods. The Canucks found a groove in the third, and only Edmonton's offense was able to bail out Levi's poor performance. Considering Tristan Jarry gave up six goals in an overtime loss to Vancouver on Tuesday, the Oilers are no closer to having a clear starter in goal yet. Their next game is at home versus the Kraken on Saturday, though neither Jarry nor Levi has done enough to be trusted in fantasy yet.
Sportsnet’s Gene Principe and Mark Spector break down the high-scoring affair between the Edmonton Oilers and the Vancouver Canucks, discussing the numerous issues facing both teams and what each needs to address going forward.
Plenty were prepared for multi-goal blowouts, rookie mistakes and losses in bunches during a tear-it-down rebuild in Calgary.