Edmonton Oilers centre Sam Gagner, left, scores the winning goal past Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo during third period NHL hockey action in Edmonton on Monday, October 19, 2009. Edmonton defeated Vancouver 2-1.Jimmy Jeong
Nikolai Khabibulin made 39 saves as the Edmonton Oilers held on for a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday.
Sam Gagner scored the third period winner for the Oilers (5-2-1) who have won four of their last five outings. Patrick O'Sullivan scored Edmonton's other goal and assist on Gagner's winner.
Some strong goaltending by Khabibulin early in the third kept Edmonton in it at 1-1 and they took advantage midway through the period as Gagner chipped a rebound over a sprawled Roberto Luongo during a scramble in front of the Vancouver net.
There was some drama at the end as Kyle Wellwood looked to have scored with the extra attacker in the final second, but a video review determined that time had expired before the puck crossed the goal-line.
Steve Bernier responded for the Canucks (3-5-0) who have yet to capture a win on the road in four attempts this season.
Vancouver opened the scoring after several giveaways in their own zone finally came back to haunt the Oilers. Denis Grebeshkov failed to clear the zone as he coughed up the puck to Wellwood and Bernier was on the doorstep to put in a rebound past Khabibulin.
The Canucks had an opportunity to go up by two with five minutes left as Mikael Samuelsson snuck out form behind the net, but Khabibulin noticed him just in time to come across and make a quick skate save.
Shots after the first were even at 11.
Edmonton tied the game 1-1 just 26 seconds into the second period as O'Sullivan corralled a hard pass from Grebeshkov at the side of the net and hammered the puck past Luongo.
Vancouver had the best chance in the remainder of the second period, but Khabibulin made a save on a hard power-play slapshot by Wellwood to keep the game tied after 40 minutes.
The Canucks conclude a short two-game trip in Chicago on Wednesday. Edmonton wraps up a three-game homestand against Columbus on Thursday.
Notes: Oiler forward Gilbert Brule, who had two goals in Edmonton's previous game against Minnesota, was a late scratch, suffering from the flu. He was replaced by Ales Hemsky who played despite still suffering from the flu himself and sitting out the previous game. a Also out for Edmonton were defencemen Sheldon Souray and Steve Staios, both with concussions. Marc-Antoine Pouliot is out 8-10 weeks following hernia surgery and Fernando Pisani is still out with a back injury, but has resumed skating. a Edmonton forward Ryan Stone left the game with a leg injury and did not returna Still missing from the Vancouver lineup due to injuries were Daniel Sedin, Sami Salo, Mathieu Schneider and Pavol Demitra. a The Canucks sat forward Darcy Hordichuk in favour of Tanner Glass. a Luongo made his eight consecutive start. a Wellwood's first period assist was his first point in eight games this season.