Eberle-McDavid-Lucic line debuts in Oilers pre-season loss to Canucks
All 3 players sport an 'A' on their jerseys as alternate captains
As a kid who grew up coming to see the Vancouver Canucks, Troy Stecher is enjoying being on the other side of the glass.
The young defenceman from nearby Richmond, B.C., scored a goal and added two assists in his NHL debut as the Canucks defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-3 in pre-season action Wednesday night at Roger Arena.
"I'm still shaking. It's an experience I won't forget for a long time," Stecher said after the game.
Stecher was one of U.S. college hockey's most sought-after undrafted free agents. He played for the University of North Dakota, but elected not to return for his senior year. If Wednesday night is any indication, he made the right choice.
"I just have to put (the experience) in my back pocket, tomorrow is a new day," he said. "I have to come to the rink prepared to work hard and continue to do my thing."
Anton Rodin scored the winning goal late on the power play, while Joseph LaBate, Brendan Gaunce, and Erik Gudbranson also scored for Vancouver (1-0-1) in its first home pre-season game. Alex Edler added three assists.
Drake Caggiula scored twice and Griffin Reinhart had a goal for Edmonton (2-1-0).
Hulking defenceman Gudbranson, who came to Vancouver in a trade with the Florida Panthers last May, scored in his debut for the Canucks. He spent much of his night facing down speedy Oilers phenom Connor McDavid, who made his pre-season debut after playing for Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey.
"He's really fast," said Gudbranson. "His turns down low, how quickly he did it — it puts pressure on you. You have to be able to keep up with him and get a good stick on him. I thought [Ben] Hutton and I did a good job."
McDavid played on a line with Jordan Eberle and new Oiler — and Vancouver native — Milan Lucic. The trio showed flashes of offensive chemistry, but couldn't impact the scoresheet.
"I thought they were real good early and real good late, but in between not as much," said Oilers head coach Todd McLellan. "I thought they would get a little more accomplished. But for the first time playing together I thought they looked dangerous in certain situations ... probably our most dangerous line."
Stecher big in NHL debut
Vancouver opened the scoring on the power play as Troy Stecher wristed a shot from the point that cleared traffic. Edmonton quickly responded as Patrick Maroon took advantage of a goalie gaffe and passed to Drake Caggiula out front to tie the game 1-1.
The Canucks regained the lead with Brendan Gaunce's goal, but the Oilers tied it on two-man advantage with Caggiula's second straight.
After Canucks goalie prospect Thatcher Demko entered the game, Joseph LaBate gave him a cushion by scoring on a Alex Edler pass to make it 3-2.
But Edmonton equalized again as Griffin Reinhart blasted one from the top of the face-off circle with under a minute left in the period.
Nick Ellis replaced JonasGustavsson to start the third. Gustavsson finished with 14 saves on 17 shots.
Maroon took a hard check in the corner and limped to the locker-room favouring his left knee midway through the third. He did not return and McLellan did not have an update after the game.
Anton Rodin's winner came on a power play as he one timed a beautiful pass from Stecher with just over four minutes left to play. Gudbranson added the empty-netter at 18:34.
"It was tough at the beginning, but it was better as the game went on," said Rodin, a Swedish leaguer who hasn't played professionally in eight months. "I'm not there yet, but I will be."