VANCOUVER — Jordan Eberle scored a goal and added two assists as the Edmonton Oilers downed the Vancouver Canucks 4-1 on Wednesday in NHL pre-season action.
Eberle produced his points in the first 7:38 of the game as all of the scoring was completed in the opening period.
Martin Marincin, David Perron and Jesse Joensuu also scored for the Oilers. Edmonton goaltender Devan Dubnyk stopped 25 of 26 shots as he played the whole game.
The Oilers scored four goals in the first 12:24 on Canucks No. 1 goaltender Roberto Luongo, who struggled in his first exhibition appearance of the year.
Brendan Gaunce, with his second goal in two pre-season games, scored for the Canucks.
The Canucks went with several core players among the 10 NHL veterans they dressed, including Daniel and Henrik Sedin and defenceman Kevin Bieksa. Edmonton’s lineup contained 12 NHL regulars, with Taylor Hall, Nick Schultz and Ryan Smyth among them.
Eberle opened the scoring 4:49 into the game as he slid a wraparound in off of Luongo. Then he made the first passes as Marincini and Perron scored on similar long shots 31 seconds apart to put the Oilers up 3-0 before the game was eight minutes old.
Joensuu scored Edmonton’s final goal of the first period on a rebound after Luongo stretched across his crease to make a sensational save on Mark Arcobello’s one-timer.
Gaunce put the Canucks on the scoreboard just 42 seconds later as he shovelled the puck past Dubnyk, who made his second pre-season appearance. But neither team could score in an uneventful second period and a similarly quiet third.
Luongo finished with 14 saves on 18 shots in two periods of work. He was replaced by Joacim Eriksson, who is vying for Vancouver’s backup job with fellow Swede Eddie Lack.
Eriksson was credited with nine saves.
Notes: The Canucks lost defencemen John Negrin and Patrick Mullen to injuries in the first period. Negrin was hurt when he crashed into the boards. He was favouring a leg as he skated to the bench with difficulty. ... Nail Yakupov was one of two Oilers scratched. ... Ty Rimmer dressed as the Oilers backup goaltender. The 21-year-old Edmonton native was never drafted and is seeking a contract after completing his junior eligibility with Lethbridge of the WHL last season. He showed enough at a prospects tournament in Penticton, B.C. to get a tour of duty in the pre-season. ... Vancouver top 2013 draft picks Bo Horvat (13th overall) and Hunter Shinkaruk (24th overall) dressed for their second consecutive game along with top 2012 pick Gaunce and 2011 first-round choice Nicklas Jensen. All other Canucks suited up for their first pre-season action.