Canucks 2, Oilers 1

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -Sami Salo was just trying to make a safe play and ended up scoring the go-ahead goal instead.

Back in the lineup after missing the previous game with a groin injury, Salo scored with a minute left in the second period to lift the Vancouver Canucks over the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 Monday night.

Starting at the right point, the Vancouver defenseman skated the puck all the way down behind the Oilers' net and out the other side. As he retreated backward to the left point, Salo snapped a wrist shot through the legs of Oilers defenseman Jason Smith and past Dwayne Roloson.

"When I came around I just looked for open guys but it's the last minute of the period so you don't want to force anything so I just threw it at the net and it seemed to have eyes," Salo said.

Taylor Pyatt also scored and Roberto Luongo made 17 saves to help the Canucks make up for a disappointing home opener on Friday, a 6-4 loss to San Jose that captain Markus Naslund labeled the worst effort of a young season.

The Canucks were much better against the Oilers, particularly in their own end. After giving up 37 shots and two breakaway goals to the Sharks, Vancouver clamped down on a skilled group of Oilers forwards that had already staged three come-from-behind wins this season.

Edmonton only managed five shots in the third period and Luongo's only tough save came on a Brad Winchester deflection.

"It was getting lonely back there," Luongo said. "The guys did a great job. They didn't get much."

Roloson made 35 saves and Raffi Torres scored for the Oilers, who play their Northwest Division rivals again in Edmonton on Tuesday night.

"We didn't do enough tonight," Roloson said. "We turned the puck over in critical areas and we all know that. That's why we play 82 games, but we've got tomorrow to come back and get a win."

Roloson, who stopped 39 shots for his 100th career win in Colorado on Saturday, was sharp early as the Canucks outshot the Oilers 17-7 in the first period and 29-13 through 40 minutes. He robbed Salo on a one-timer 6 minutes in, and Ryan Kesler on a rebound late in the first, but didn't have much of a chance on the winner.

"I saw it all the way, but it takes a bounce, whether it was off their guy or our guy standing in front, and it ended up going short side," Roloson said.

Edmonton jumped in front 2 minutes into the second when Luongo steered Marc-Andre Bergeron's shot off the left wing to Torres on the other side.

Pyatt tied it 6 minutes later on a similar play, knocking a rebound into an unguarded net before Roloson could recover from Kevin Bieksa's long shot.

Notes: Canucks backup G Dany Sabourin, acquired off waivers from Pittsburgh on the eve of the regular season, will play his first game in Edmonton on Tuesday. ... Salo's return forced rookie D Luc Bourdon back into the press box as a healthy scratch after he was minus-2 in just 4:41 of ice time against San Jose. ... Torres had seven goals in eight games against Vancouver last season. ... The Oilers are rewarding their best player each game with the 'ugly coat,' a long, leather jacket with a thick fur collar given out in the spirit of Calgary's hardhat award two seasons ago.