The Carolina Hurricanes entered Thursday's contest in Edmonton battered and bruised, but they were about to get a big boost to their lineup. The group collected a win in their third stop on Tuesday night, riding a three-goal third period to a 6-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. The test would be very different against the Oilers and their high-powered offense.
Both sides welcomed big pieces of their groups to the lineup for their season debuts. For the Canes, Seth Jarvis was back after missing the beginning of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery. For the Oilers, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins returned from a lower-body injury. Skyler Brind'Amour also joined the lineup for his season debut. Brandon Bussi and Devon Levi squared off in the nets.
The power plays came prepared to start the night. After a questionable tripping call, Leon Draisaitl needed three seconds to redirect a pass from Evan Bouchard past Bussi. However, the Canes responded. Their power play lasted six seconds before Jackson Blake hopped on a rebound, drawing Carolina even. The Canes controlled the latter stages, but the game remained tied after 20.
If you were late for the second period, you missed a Sebastian Aho goal. He flew past Mattias Ekholm to collect a loose puck and slid it five-hole on Levi just 30 seconds into the frame to give the Canes their first lead of the night. Unfortunately, Edmonton's power play struck again. Nugent-Hopkins had time and space in the slot to fire it home, knotting things at two.
As they did during the first period, the Canes settled in and played much better as the second went along. Jarvis got his big moment just past the halfway point. He spun Bouchard away and made Levi guess before finishing a gorgeous goal. Then, in the final minutes, Nikolaj Ehlers picked a pocket and found Logan Stankoven as he charged to the net, pushing the Canes ahead by two after 40.
SETH JARVIS HAS NEVER BEEN MORE BACK pic.twitter.com/a3RdNCNI3c
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) October 23, 2026
Edmonton immediately came out and seized control in the third period. Connor McDavid scored 26 seconds into the period, and Draisaitl picked up his second on the power play just over two minutes later to even the game at four. Still, the Canes had the game in their control when Juuso Valimaki scored his first goal in almost two years with 2:40 left. Unfortunately, they squandered it again.
The Oilers thought they'd tied it when Zach Hyman put one into the net, but it was taken away because of a high stick. Eight seconds later, they scored for real when McDavid's pass deflected in off Jesperi Kotkaniemi's skate. The Canes earned a point, but Edmonton grabbed the second. After a scoreless overtime, Nugent-Hopkins scored the lone shootout goal to win it, 6-5.
This game was about what we expected it to be, and it was surely fun
We can pick apart this game with a fine-tooth comb until we're blue in the face and pass out from exhaustion, and we'll talk about some of the ins and outs of what made this one tick. No matter how you look at it, this was about as entertaining a game as we've seen all season, even if it frustrates everyone to no end that the Canes couldn't finish the job.
The facts are the facts. The Canes had a two-goal lead entering the third period, and they led the game again with under three minutes to go. Under normal circumstances, there are no excuses for not earning two points. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl aren't normal circumstances. They're two of the five best players on the planet, and we saw why tonight.
McDavid and Draisaitl each finished with two goals and three assists, contributing to all five of Edmonton's goals during regulation. Three of them were on the power play. The only other players with points were Evan Bouchard, who set up the first goal, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who had a goal and an assist before winning the game in the shootout. That's how Edmonton operates.
The Canes were in their position because everyone contributed. Three of the four lines scored goals, led by a goal and an assist from Sebastian Aho. Seth Jarvis scored in his return. Juuso Valimaki nearly had the game-winner when he got one late. Jordan Martinook and Shayne Gostisbehere had two assists each. Everyone on the second line had a point, including Ehlers' 600th NHL point.
Carolina was the better team at 5-on-5 almost all night. Four of Edmonton's goals came while they had a man advantage, if we want to count the tying goal as Levi was exiting the ice. Obviously, not having Jordan Staal was detrimental, especially on the penalty kill. The Canes were just 2-for-7 on penalty kill draws tonight. As such, they went just 2-for-5 on the kill.
Brandon Bussi's night was an enigma because I don't think there's a ton that he could've done on most of Edmonton's goals. They just seemed to come in succession. The exception was the tying goal late in regulation. Yes, it was friendly fire, but that can't beat you between the pads. He made some big saves after Edmonton tied it at four. That goal will make everyone forget about that.
The road trip ends on Saturday, and the conclusion can't come quickly enough for the Hurricanes. They've battled through injuries and ensured no worse than a .500 trip by getting a point tonight. St. Louis is all that stands between the Canes and a return to Raleigh. This loss will probably sting for a minute, but they can't let that affect them when the puck drops against the Blues this weekend.
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