Dubnyk helps Oilers beat Canucks again
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Devan Dubnyk made 26 saves, Ryan Jones and Magnus Paajarvi scored, and the last-place Edmonton Oilers beat the first-place Vancouver Canucks for the second consecutive game, 2-0 on Tuesday night.
Dubnyk got his second shutout of the season for the Oilers, won 4-1 at Vancouver on Saturday to snap an 11-game winless streak. Edmonton now has 61 points, topping the franchise-worst 60 it had in 1992-93.
The Canucks have lost consecutive games after winning 12 of 13 to clinch the Presidents' Trophy for the league's top record.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Oilers had the better early opportunities as their young team came out flying. The best chance came on a quick shot from the slot by Chris Vande Velde that got past Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo up high but rattled off the crossbar.
Edmonton took a 1-0 lead with just 3 seconds left in the first period as Jones deflected Jordan Eberle's shot on a power play. The goal was Jones's 18th of the season.
Dubnyk kept the Oilers ahead with a big pad save on Alexandre Burrows 4 minutes into the second period.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Luongo also came up big when needed in the second, standing his ground to deny Paajarvi on a partial breakaway midway through the period.
Vancouver led 18-14 in shots but remained down by a goal through 40 minutes.
The Canucks had a great opportunity to tie the game early in the third on a power play as a puck dribbled loose in front, but Ryan Kesler fanned on a chance to put it into the empty net.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Raffi Torres put Vancouver in a tough position with 7 minutes to play as he seemed to go out of his way to throw an elbow to Eberle's head, earning a major penalty.
Less than a minute later, Aaron Rome and Burrows went off for cross-checking at the same time.
Edmonton finally capitalized with just under three minutes to play as Linus Omark fed Paajarvi's in front, and he beat Luongo.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NOTES: It was the sixth and final meeting between the two teams. Vancouver won the first four before Saturday's surprise win by the Oilers. ... Edmonton D Tom Gilbert was out with sore back. Gilbert saw his consecutive games streak end at 332. ... Canucks F Mikael Samuelsson returned after missing the last six games with a thigh injury. To make room for him in the lineup, Vancouver re-assigned Victor Oreskovich to Manitoba of the AHL. ... The Oilers were without C Colin Fraser and C Gilbert Brule for the game. Brule who played just over four minutes in Saturday's game against the Canucks, has played just 41 games this season because of illnesses, intestinal problems, a sprained ankle and a concussion.