VANCOUVER - Mason Raymond and Jannik Hansen played like a pair of seasoned veterans Saturday night.
Raymond, in only his second full NHL season, and Hansen, still officially a rookie, scored two goals apiece as the Vancouver Canucks beat the Edmonton Oilers 6-3 before a sellout crowd of 18,630 at General Motors Place.
"You've got another year under your belt," said Raymond, 23. "You come in here last year learning the ropes and seeing how things work. You're the younger guy. Obviously, I'm still a young guy in here, but I'm sure I feel more confident."
Kyle Wellwood, with what proved to the winning goal, and Jason Krog also scored for the Canucks (4-4-0) as they ended a three-game losing streak.
Denis Grebeshkov, Robert Nilsson and Steve Staios replied for the Oilers (4-3-0) as they suffered their third straight loss following four consecutive wins to start the season.
Raymond and Hansen helped Vancouver's much-maligned power-play units convert four of six opportunities. Before Saturday, the Canucks had scored on only three of 33 power-play chances on the season.
"We were moving the puck extremely well and getting the shots on net," said Hansen, 22. "That way, they were backing up on the (penalty killing) a little bit."
Vancouver's power play ultimately made the difference after the Canucks allowed the Oilers to overcome deficits of 1-0 after the first period and 3-1 midway through the second.
The Canucks only outshot the Oilers 30-28 but held Edmonton scoreless on its four power-play chances.
Nilsson brought the Oilers back within a goal at 13:31 of the middle period, firing a long wrist shot from the boards that Luongo mishandled. Less than three minutes later, Staios evened the score thanks to a fortuitous bounce after Sam Gagner's blocked shot was re-redirected right to him and he was left with a gaping net.
Gagner was awarded a penalty shot at 17:48 after Canucks defenceman Alex Edler hooked him as he tried to deke Luongo on a breakaway. But Luongo nonchalantly gloved his wrist shot.
"It was a big moment in the game there," said Luongo. "If he scores it's 4-3 going into the locker-room.
"I know he likes to make a lot of moves on his breakaway and I said to myself I was going to be as patient as possible and he ended up shooting right away. That's why I didn't move much, I was kind of surprised, but at end I as able to react."
Vigneault called Luongo's penalty-shot save the turning point in the game.
Wellwood netted the winner on a power play at 2:32 of the third period. After getting the puck from Ryan Kesler, he faked a pass and then beat Oilers goaltender Mathieu Garon with a wrist shot to his glove side.
With the goal, Wellwood continued to make good on an unexpected second chance with the Canucks. After coming to training camp in poor shape, the former Toronto Maple Leaf was sent to the minors after only one game with Vancouver.
He was recalled after Pavol Demitra was sidelined with a rib injury and now has three points in as many games.
"He was one of our better players on the whole rink, not just on the power play," said Vigneault. "He's obviously grabbed his opportunities since we recalled him . . . He's rising to the occasion."
Hansen's second goal of the game at 7:45 of the third period gave Vancouver another two-goal cushion.
The Herlev, Denmark native - one of few Danes ever to crack the NHL - now has three goals in eight games. His chances of cracking Vancouver's lineup were far from secure when training camp opened, but he led the Canucks in scoring during the pre-season.
He is happy to be able to keep scoring now that games actually mean something.
"Pre-season is one thing," said Hansen. "It's another thing when teams have their best lineup out there and it's a little more competitive. You take another step up the ladder. It's nice to be contributing a little bit, too."
Krog, last season's American Hockey League scoring champion, scored his first goal as a Canuck. Much to MacTavish's chagrin, it came on a power play.
"It was disappointing," said MacTavish. "You can't win the games if you can't kill the penalties - that's for sure."
Notes: Canucks winger Darcy Hordichuk suited up after missing two games with a knee injury. Vancouver centre Rick Rypien also returned, after being sidelined for two games with a viral infection . . . MacTavish and Staios joined the list of opponents to Montreal Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey's proposal to limit the way players block shots . . . Staios returned to the Edmonton lineup after missing the previous two games for personal reasons . . . Oilers centre Fernando Pisani missed his second straight game because of a back injury suffered in the pre-game warmup on Wednesday in Chicago . . . Edmonton left winger Steve MacIntyre had an unofficial short stay in the American Hockey League earlier this month. Florida sent MacIntyre to its Rochester farm team before he cleared waivers. He was halfway through his first practice with Rochester when he learned the Oilers had claimed him.