Canucks head into the playoffs on a winning note

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Alex Edler scored 2:29 into overtime as the Vancouver Canucks rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat the Edmonton Oilers 6-5 in their final regular season game. Edler also had two assists in the victory.

Vancouver had to fight from behind the entire game to get the two points. The Oilers took a 2-0 lead midway through the first period with goals from Nail Yakupov and Jordan Eberle just 11 seconds apart.

The Canucks got one of those goals back before the first period came to an end, as Daniel Sedin scored his 20th goal of the season. That marks the eighth time in his career that he has reached the 20-goal mark.

Kevin Bieksa scored on a wrap-around early in the second period to tie the game 2-2, but Edmonton got goals from Taylor Hall and Benoit Pouliot to re-store its two-goal cushion.

Just 14 seconds after the Pouilot goal, Sven Baerstchi scored his first goal as a member of the Canucks to cut the Edmonton lead to 4-3. Teddy Purcell scored late in the period to put the Oilers ahead 5-3.

Vancouver was able to rally in the third period to tie the game and force overtime. Jannik Hansen banged in a rebound and then Baerstchi scored his second goal of the night.

Ryan Miller was making his first start in goal for Vancouver since injuring his knee in late February. He allowed five goals on 28 shots.

The Canucks didn’t have anything to play for, as the Calgary Flames lost 5-1 to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday afternoon. That result clinched second place in the Pacific Division for the Canucks, which means Vancouver gets home ice advantage for it’s first round playoff series against the Flames.

The series is expected to get underway on Wednesday, but the schedule will not be released until Sunday.