Canucks beat Oilers 6-5 in overtime after late rally

The Vancouver Canucks opened their NHL season Tuesday with a 6-5 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers, as Paul Cotter scored twice, including the deciding goal 1:59 into overtime. The victory came after Vancouver gave up a three-goal lead in the third period and Edmonton forced extra time with a late goal. Vancouver built a 5-2 advantage early in the third after the teams entered the period tied 2-2. Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Max Sasson and Elias Pettersson scored in a four-minute span, extending the Canucks’ lead after Marco Rossi and Cotter had scored earlier. Edmonton mounted its comeback through Vasily Podkolzin and Evan Bouchard. Podkolzin scored at 8:56 of the third, and Bouchard completed a hat trick 24 seconds later. With Edmonton pressing late and its goalie pulled for an extra attacker, Podkolzin scored again with less than a minute remaining to tie the game 5-5. Cotter ended the contest in three-on-three overtime, finishing a play after Vancouver recovered the puck in the offensive zone. He also scored the game’s opening goal, a short-handed tally in the first period. The Canucks’ other goals came from Rossi, Lekkerimäki, Sasson and Pettersson.