The Edmonton Oilers opened the 2026-27 NHL season with a wild 6-5 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks.
Edmonton erased a three-goal deficit in the third period before Paul Cotter scored the overtime winner. The Oilers shared the final score on X with the caption, “Canucks end it in OT.”
Fans quickly reacted to the result, with several mocking Edmonton after another difficult finish.
“I’m a Canucks fan man we should’ve lost,” one fan wrote. “You guys really suck 🤣😆”
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Another fan targeted the officiating while criticizing Edmonton’s performance.
“Too bad the refs couldn’t help you at all,” the fan wrote. “You just sucked too bad is all…”
A third fan focused on Edmonton’s goaltending and defense after the dramatic defeat.
“Same old oilers. Come all the way back to lose,” the fan wrote. “Idk wtf Shea is doing there. We win this game easily with Levi in net. Jarry can get fucked.”
One fan pointed to Connor McDavid‘s performance, saying, “McDavid 0 shots on goal.”
One fan questioned goalie Tristan Jarry, saying, “Best thing that can happen for the Oilers is this for their bum a** goalie, Tristian Jarry, to sustain a season ending injury. Any option is better option than this guy. His entire career looks like tonight.”
Meanwhile, one fan took a shot at Canucks, writing, “Canucks fan having the best night of their lives before they go back to the basement for the rest of the year lmao.”
Oilers’ Evan Bouchard’s historic night wasted
Evan Bouchard produced one of the best individual performances of the night. The Oilers defenseman recorded three goals and two assists. Bouchard became the first defenseman in Oilers history to record a multigoal season opener. He also became only the third defenseman in NHL history to score a hat trick in an opening game.
Vasily Podkolzin added two goals for Edmonton. His second goal came with 43 seconds remaining in regulation and tied the game at 5-5.
The Oilers entered the third period tied 2-2 before Vancouver scored three straight goals. Elias Pettersson gave the Canucks a 5-2 lead at 5:15 of the period.
Edmonton then mounted its comeback. Podkolzin scored at 8:56 before Bouchard completed his hat trick 24 seconds later.
Tristan Jarry stopped 17 shots for Edmonton but allowed six goals. The goaltending performance will draw attention after Edmonton rebuilt its crease during the offseason.
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Cotter ended the comeback 1:59 into overtime. He finished with two goals and became the first Canucks player to score a shorthanded goal in his team debut.
Edmonton gets an immediate chance to respond. The Oilers visit Vancouver again Thursday night.
