VANCOUVER -- The Edmonton Oilers succeeded in living up to some of their early-season hype Sunday. Ales Hemsky tied the game in the third period and added the shootout winner as the Oilers opened their season with a 3-2 comeback victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Sam Gagner also scored in the shootout for the Oilers, who were making their debut in the lockout-shortened season, while Devan Dubnyk stopped both Vancouver attempts. "We have an abundance of offensively-skilled players, but shooting penalty shots is a whole different ball game," said Ralph Krueger, who picked up a win in his first game as an NHL head coach. "And, I think the way Gagner and Hemsky dealt with that tonight was outstanding." The young, offensively-gifted Oilers have entered the season with high expectations, with many observers expecting them to take a strong run at making the playoffs for the first time in seven years. Edmonton has not qualified for the post-season since losing to Carolina in the 2006 Stanley Cup final. Krueger, who served as an assistant last season when the Oilers finished 29th overall, said the club is learning how to finish games and has a much different "swagger." It began to show itself Sunday as the Oilers overcame a slow start. The clubs penalty-killers played a key role as the Oilers blanked the Canucks on five power-play opportunities while convert one of four. "The penalty killing was outstanding, and the most important penalty killer is always your goaltender," said Krueger. "(Dubnyk) just showed so much calm, (stayed) well-positioned the whole time, and our penalty killing bought us the time." The Canucks, meanwhile, blew a 2-0 lead and have now suffered back-to-back losses after falling 7-3 to Anaheim at home on Saturday night. Jordan Eberle had the other goal in regulation for Edmonton, while Alex Edler and Zack Kassian scored for Vancouver. After struggling early, Edmonton showed glimpses of its potential offensively from the dozen first-round picks that now dot the roster. "It showed a lot of the character we have in the locker-room," Oilers captain Shawn Horcoff said of the comeback. "It shows our belief. It showed our depth. They were a little tired, obviously, coming off Saturday night, and we were able to take it to them in the third. It was nice to get a win." Roberto Luongo, who was expected to be traded after being displaced as Vancouvers starter by Cory Schneider in last springs playoffs, made his second straight appearance in the young season and finished with 30 saves. Dubnyk finished with 27 to get the win. Despite the loss, Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault was happy with his clubs effort against a well rested Oilers squad. "We didnt have much left in the tank halfway through the third period, but we tried to battle through," said Vigneault. Trailing 2-0 late in the second, Eberle got the Oilers on the board by roofing a backhander past Luongo from a sharp angle with just four seconds left in the period. Edmonton pressed for the tie in the third period, with Hemsky beating Luongo on a weak shot from the wing on the power play at 14:05. The goal came after Andrew Ebbett took a penalty for tripping Oilers rookie Nail Yakupov, who was making his NHL debut. The Oilers had 12 players in the AHL or in Europe during the lockout, while only four Canucks played overseas during the labour dispute. Horcoff said the game-readiness made a difference against Vancouver. "I think it helped a lot, maybe, after the first period," said Horcoff. "We came out a little bit flat, but I thought as the game wore on, we got better, and it didnt take us too long to adapt." But Krueger offered a different view. "I havent noticed a big difference, which is surprising if you see (veterans) Horcoff and (Ryan Smyth) carry all those penalties (on penalty-kills) tonight without having played much hockey," said Krueger. "I think the difference whether youve played a lot will show up in a few weeks." Notes: Oilers defenceman Justin Schultz, a highly-coveted free agent signing, also played his first NHL game. ... Vancouver defencemen Jim Vandermeer, Cam Barker and Andrew Alberts were scratched for the second straight game. ... Edmonton bench boss Ralph Krueger made his debut as an NHL head coach. ... Krueger scratched former Canucks winger Darcy Hordichuk, along with winger Magnus Paajarvi and defenceman Mark Fistric. ... The Canucks recorded their 410th consecutive sellout. .... Edmonton goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin is recovering from off-season hip injury. .Y. -- Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta was released from the hospital Wednesday, after absorbing a hard hit late in the first period of Buffalos 4-3 loss to the Maple Leafs Tuesday in Toronto. [url=http://www.comprarairforce1barataspt.com/nike-air-max-90-unisex.html]Nike Air Max 90 Feminino Comprar . Sharapova, currently second in the world rankings, was not in Fridays draw for the China Open beginning Saturday in Beijing. Nike Air Max 90 Baratas . Blantons deal includes a team option for 2015, a person familiar with the negotiations said Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical. Burnetts agreement also is pending a physical. Blanton, who turns 32 next week, was 10-13 with a 4. . According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Crosby was given medical clearance to practice on Thursday and is expected to join his teammates on the ice on Friday.The Vancouver Canucks are one win away from turning their quest for the Stanley Cup into reality after a 1-0 win over the Boston Bruins in Game 5 on Friday night. Maxim Lapierre scored the winning goal in the third period and Roberto Luongo made 31 saves for the shutout to help the Canucks take a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 will be played Monday night in Boston. Lapierre beat Boston netminder Tim Thomas just under five minutes into the third period for the first and only goal of the game. The crowd at Rogers Arena in Vancouver erupted as Lapierre found the back of the net after a shot from Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa rebounded off the back boards onto his stick. Lapierre couldnt contain his excitement either and began dancing on his skates. "I had so many thoughts in my head, I just began jumping," Lapierre said after the game. His second goal of the playoffs broke a 110 minute, 42 second shutout streak for Thomas that dated back to Game 3. Now the Canucks have to refocus and get ready for a battle in Game 6. "We know its going to be the biggest game of our life, the next one," said Lapierre. "Boston is going to come really hard. We are going to have to be ready for the challenge." The Canucks won the first two games of the series but it was Boston who had all of the momentum coming into Game 5. The Bruins leveled the series at 2-2 after outscoring the Canucks 12-1 in Boston. After giving up eight goals in Game 3 and then getting pulled after another four in Game 4, Luongo looked unbeatable on Friday, outdueling Thomas for his fourth shutout of the playoffs. "Its not the first time its happened," said Luongo. "I know what I need to do to get ready and have my A game. "I thought we all played well and we all stepped up our level of play to take it to a new level we needed to win this game. We do whatever it takes. Thats what we need to do to win." The Canucks netminder looked sharp from the get-go, making a great reaction stop on Milan Lucic on a Boston power-play in the first period. From there, he just continued to make saves, earning his second shutout of the Final. Luongo also got plenty of help from his defenceman who blocked shots all night and were efficient in clearing away loosee pucks in front of him.dddddddddddd The Canucks netminder also had a bit of luck on his side early in the first period as Bostons Chris Kelly hit the crossbar over his shoulder. "We didnt make Luongo work hard enough for the win," said Thomas. "I dont think we tested him enough. We didnt get the same type of chances that we were getting in Games 3 and 4." Thomas made 24 stops in the loss. The Canucks have only beaten Thomas six times in the five games this series but now sit just one win away from the franchises first-ever Stanley Cup victory. The Bruins will now look to regroup at home and force a Game 7, which would be back in Vancouver next Wednesday. "Weve been through this how many times?" asked Bruins head coach Claude Julien following the game. "Weve had to regroup all year, weve never done things the easy way. The goal is to create another Game 7." The Canucks came out looking to set a physical tone in Game 5 but were on the penalty-kill for a good portion of the first period after taking three penalties in the first 20 minutes. The Canucks handed the Bruins their fourth straight power play early in the second period but their penalty-kill led by Luongo held firm. By failing to capitalize with the man advantage in Game 5, the Bruins are now just 1-for-12 on the power play in Vancouver during the series. "We didnt get anything for free," said Vancouver captain Henrik Sedin following the win. "We stayed focused throughout the game. We had to battle through penalty kills and a lot of different things. We stuck with it and Im really proud of this team." The Canucks power-play also continued to struggle against the Bruins. Vancouver had three opportunities with the man advantage in the game but was unable to capitalize. The Canucks are on the verge of a Stanley Cup title in their first return to the championship series since 1994. The Bruins, meanwhile, have won five Stanley Cups, but none since 1972. They are 0-5 in the Finals since then, the last loss coming to Edmonton in 1990. Notes: The team scoring first in the series is 4-0… The team winning Games 1-2 at home and losing Games 3-4 on the road has a series record of 8-2 in the Stanley Cup Final and a Game 5 record of 10-0. [url=http://www.cheapjerseyssafe.com/]cheap jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '