Mironov, Oilers Sink Canucks

Boris Mironov had a goal and two assists as the Edmonton Oilers won their first game of the season, 4-1 over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night.

The Oilers, who snapped a four-game losing streak in Vancouver going back to Dec. 23, 1996, went 3-for-7 on the power play after starting the season 0-for-8 with the man advantage.

The Canucks managed only 13 shots on goal, including eight through the first two periods.

Pat Falloon opened the scoring with a power-play goal 2:27 into the game, beating Vancouver goalie Garth Snow through the legs from the left circle.

The Oilers, who opened the season with two losses, went up 2-0 six minutes later when Andrei Kovalenko, from behind the net, set up Mironov cutting in from the left point. Kevin Brown's power-play goal made it 3-0 with 7:14 left in the second period, chipping in a bouncing puck from the side of the net after Mironov's shot went wide.

Edmonton put the game away on Todd Marchant's power-play goal 1:15 into the third period.

Todd McAmmond had two assists for the Oilers, while left wing Ryan Smyth was held without a point in his season debut after finalizing his contract earlier in the day.

Mark Messier scored the Canucks' lone goal on a power play, ending goalie Mikhail Shtalenkov's shutout bid with 4:36 left in regulation. The goal was Messier's first of the season and 598th of his career, two short of becoming the 10th NHL player to reach the 600-goal plateau.

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