Canucks Outshoot Edmonton, 42-16, but Lose, 6-2

Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky each scored two goals to pace the Edmonton Oilers to a 6-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in a National Hockey League game Friday night.

Messier scored to give Edmonton a 3-2 lead only a few seconds into the third period. Gretzky added two scores--short-handed at 12:22 and unassisted at 14:08. Paul Coffey scored the final goal, with seven seconds left, on a slapshot from the slot.

The Oilers improved to 8-4, while the Canucks, who outshot Edmonton, 42-16, dropped to 2-7-1. Vancouver outshot the Oilers, 31-8, in the first two periods while forging a 2-2 tie.

Rick Lanz gave the Canucks a 1-0 lead in the first period with a power-play goal from the point. Edmonton tied the score on a slick three-way passing play, with Messier tipping a shot past Canuck goalie Richard Brodeur on assists by Gretzky and Coffey.

Vancouver’s Steve Tambellini made it 2-1 at 2:50 of the second period, but the Oilers tied the score, 2-2, at 15:22 as Mike Krushelnyski scored a power-play goal.