Oilers blanked by Canucks

Oilers forward Zack Stortini tangles with Darcy Hordichuk of the Canucks on Sunday night (photo: Jeff Vinnick / Vancouver Canucks)

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PRE-GAME

Preview Game Notes Head-to-Head Stats Comparison Video interviews Audio Interviews

PHOTOS

Click here for the photo gallery

VIDEO

Watch tonight's post-game video highlights. Post-game comments from Deslauriers, Gagner, Moreau and Pat Quinn

AUDIO

Pat Quinn Jeff Deslauriers Sam Gagner Ethan Moreau.

THREE STARS

Roberto Luongo, VAN Ryan Kesler, VAN Michael Grabner, VAN

UPDATE

With the loss, the Oilers record slips to 6-4-1 and the team moves into seventh spot in the Western Conference.

WHAT'S NEXT

Edmonton returns home for a pair of games this week starting Tuesday night against the Colorado Avalanche. Game time is 7:30 p.m. MDT. Click here for ticket info.

by Marc Ciampa | edmontonoilers.com

The Edmonton Oilers ran out of gas on Sunday night at GM Place in Vancouver, getting blanked 2-0 by the Vancouver Canucks. Michael Grabner's first-period goal and Henrik Sedin second-period marker were the difference in the game.

FIRST PERIOD

The first penalty of the game went to the Oilers as Tom Gilbert was sent off for tackling Alex Burrows in front of the Edmonton net.

Vancouver cycled the puck deep on the man advantage but couldn't generate any real good scoring chances as Edmonton's PK unit did a good job keeping the play to the outside of netminder Jeff Deslauriers.

The Oilers got their first power play seven-and-a-half minutes in when Canucks' centre Henrik Sedin was sent off for roughing. 28 seconds later, Willie Mitchell received a high-sticking penalty to give Edmonton a two-man advantage.

Edmonton had five shots on goal during their five-on-three but could not capitalize.

With 2:09 to go in the opening frame, Vancouver scored the game's first goal. Michael Grabner redirected a shot that slipped through the five hole of Deslauriers to make it 1-0 for the home side.

Immediately after the next faceoff, Darcy Hordichuk and Zack Stortini dropped the gloves at centre ice. Both combatants got their punches in but in the end it was a likely draw between the two.

Shots on goal after one period were 15-8 in favour of the host Canucks.

SECOND PERIOD

Jeff Deslauriers made a big stop early in the second off Vancouver's Alexandre Bolduc as the rookie attepted to fire a quick rebound past the Oilers netminder's outstretched pad but Deslauriers was able to reach across and knock the puck away.

Vancouver increased their lead to 2-0 midway through the period. The Oilers clearing attempt was stopped at the left point by Mikael Samuelsson. His wrist shot was batted down on its way to the net by Henrik Sedin, slipping past Deslauriers for the goal.

Edmonton had another opportunity to get within a goal after Alex Edler took a penalty for Vancouver with just over three minutes to play in the second.

The Oilers put a lot of pressure on the Canucks during the man advantage but couldn't solve Luongo.

The Oilers fell behind by another goal despite outshooting Vancouver 8-4 in the period. The Canucks have a 19-16 overall edge in shots in the game.

THIRD PERIOD

Lubomir Visnovsky fell victim to a high stick from Grabner, drawing blood. The resulting penalty gave Edmonton a four-minute power play but Visnovsky had to go to the dressing room for repairs.

With just under five minutes to go, Sam Gagner almost broke Luongo's shutout bid. His shot from the slot went just wide of the goal.

The final shots on goal tally was 29-27 for Vancouver.