Canucks beat Oilers 6-5 OT, Paul Cotter scores OT winner; Bouchard posts hat trick

sportsSep 30, 202640540

EDMONTON, The Vancouver Canucks beat the Edmonton Oilers 6-5 in overtime on Sept. 29, 2026, as Paul Cotter capped a two-goal night with the winner 1:59 into extra time. Marco Rossi, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Max Sasson and Elias Pettersson also scored for Vancouver, and Kevin Lankinen made 32 saves in the Canucks’ net as they opened 1-0-0. Evan Bouchard recorded a hat trick and two assists for Edmonton and Vasily Podkolzin scored twice, but Tristan Jarry made just 17 saves in the loss as the Oilers fell to 0-0-1. Pettersson’s goal at 5:15 of the third put Vancouver up 5-2 before Podkolzin scored at 8:56, Bouchard struck 24 seconds later, and Podkolzin’s second with 43 seconds remaining forced overtime. Cotter became the first player in Canucks history to score a short-handed goal in his debut with the team. Bouchard became the first Oilers defenceman to record a multi-goal game in a season opener and only the third defenceman in NHL history to score a hat trick in a season opener. The game was Edmonton’s home opener at Rogers Place and Prime Minister Mark Carney was in attendance; Manny Malhotra served as Vancouver’s head coach, marking him as the fourth person to represent the Canucks as both a player and head coach.

Bruce Arthur

@brucearthur.bsky.social

The Leafs losing to Montreal is just a game, and the Habs are good. The Oilers getting smoked by the rebuilding Canucks in Mike Babcock's first game in a make-or-break year, or near enough? That's comedy, baby

13110d ago

Bruce Arthur19

Goaltending is important, they say

Jean B Anderson 🍁5

Canucks getting close to matching their 2025-2026 total of exciting victories.

Broiler1265🇨🇦2

I hope the Oilers lose every game. They should never have hired that definition of an a#@hole.

Cap’n Cornelius2

Babcock being back in the league is such a joke. They deserve every miserable loss they suffer.

Mark Paul Oleksiw1

Mike Babcock's reactions were classic.

Daily Faceoff Vancouver

@dfovancouver.bsky.social

PAUL COTTER'S OT WINNER GIVES THE CANUCKS A WIN ON OPENING NIGHT!

4410d ago

WPGChief

@wpgchief.bsky.social

Don't let the Oilers losing to the woefully dreadful Canucks distract you from the fact that Stan Bowman hired Mike Babcock and signed Alex Formenton

2410d ago

Daniel Wagner

@passittobulis.bsky.social

Kevin Lankinen makes a big save on the penalty kill and picks up a primary assist on Paul Cotter's opening shorthanded goal. What a shot by Cotter. Smooth release. #Canucks

3010d ago

David Quadrelli

@quadrelli.bsky.social

Was chatting with Paul Cotter in the Canucks locker room when Drew O’Connor walked by and asked (a couple of times) “is that Rocket Richard?”

3110d ago

Elliotte Friedman (Bot)

@notfriedgehnic.bsky.social

Per /EdmontonJack, Evan Bouchard's hat trick is first by a defenceman in a season opener since Mark Howe in 1980. Oilers trail Canucks 5-4 with 10:40 to go, though

2310d ago

Quoting this

Elliotte Friedman (Bot)14

OT underway, 5-5, crazy game

Dr. Canuck, MD

@drcanuckmd.medsky.social

What a game. Refs tried to get the Oilers the win but the Canucks weren’t playing along.

2310d ago

Adam Kierszenblat

@adamkblat.bsky.social

Just like we all expected, the first #Canucks goal of the 2026-27 season is a shorthanded goal by Paul Cotter

2210d ago

Gemma Karstens-Smith

@gks.bsky.social

Reupping this story I wrote on Paul Cotter at Canucks training camp for absolutely no reason. #Canucks #NHL www.thestar.com/sports/hocke...

1510d ago

Ryan Batty

@ryanbatty.bsky.social

As long as the Canucks don’t get another shot on goal, the Oilers might be able to complete the comeback.

1710d ago

alexis simpson

@amutepiggy.bsky.social

this is specifically about Oilers v Canucks tonight but honestly describes about 60 percent of professional hockey games

screenshot of someone in the r/hockey subreddit commenting about the Canucks vs Oilers NHL game on tonight.

Drummers_Beat 6m
TOR - NHL Top 1% Commenter

what the fuck is this game

1910d ago

NHL (Bot)

@notnhl.bsky.social

PAUL COTTER 😳 His first with the /Canucks gives them a 1-0 lead here in the first period! #NHLFaceOff 📺: /Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ watch.sportsnet.ca

1510d ago

Abolish social media

@webstarvancity.bsky.social

How many 1st overall draft picks did the Oilers get? And they still need PPs against the fucking 2026/2027 Canucks? Lol

810d ago

Chris Golden

@lyteforce.ca

Paul Cotter AND Marco Rossi on pace for 84 this season. #Canucks

1110d ago

Louis Boulet

@louisboulet.bsky.social

We released our Post-Game Reports for LB-Hockey during last year's playoffs, so it's our first season opener with them! This Canucks-Oilers game was wild. EDM dominated all the way through but Bouchard & Podkolzin's performances weren't enough to overcome Paul Cotter's heroics. 📊 lb-hockey.com

79d ago

2 sources

thestar.comNewcomer Paul Cotter looking to balance skill, physicality with Vancouver Canucks globalnews.caCotter, Canucks outlast Oilers 6-5 in overtime

Burnham 'really concerned' if Man City owners sell upsports MLB Wild Card Series Day 1, Padres rout Cubs; White Sox winsports Manchester City found guilty of Premier League financial breachessports Canucks beat Oilers 6-5 OT, Paul Cotter scores OT winner; Bouchard posts hat tricksports

Canucks beat Oilers 6-5 OT, Paul Cotter scores OT winner; Bouchard posts hat trick

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