Canucks rookie Oberg continues to shine

Vancouver Canucks rookie Evan Oberg continued to look at home at the NHL level Saturday night.
Oberg, a 21-year-old defenceman, assisted on Alex Edler's opening goal as the Canucks beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 to remain undefeated after four NHL preseason games.
In addition to providing a strong offensive effort, Oberg was steady defensively, helping Vancouver keep the previously unbeaten Oilers (3-1) in check before an announced sellout crowd of 18,630 at GM Place.
"It's a big change, for sure," said Oberg. "Everybody's a lot bigger and stronger out there."
The Forestburg, Alta., native signed with the Canucks last spring after two seasons of U.S. college hockey at the University of Minnesota. Some rookies find the speed of the NHL is their most difficult adjustment, but not Oberg.
"College is probably one of the fastest games," he said. "But everybody is just going 100 miles an hour and not really in control. Here, everybody's controlled, and they know what they're doing. It's not as scrambly as other leagues."
Oberg now has two points in three preseason appearances. He is a longshot to make the Canucks opening-night roster, since they have 10 rearguards signed to one-way NHL contracts.
But the Canucks also face some salary-cap issues, and Oberg’s two-way contract, which includes a minor-league salary and NHL pay, offers coach Alain Vigneault and general manager Mike Gillis some options – if he can pass the test. So far, Vigneault gives him good grades.
“He’s been really good since rookie camp,” said Vigneault. “He really caught everyone’s attention by his poise and the way he could skate with the puck. We were anxious to see how he would do once he came to our camp, and he’s maintained the pace.”
Vigneault and Gillis have indicated they will not hesitate to send a player on a one-way NHL contract to the minors. The coach suggested Oberg has a shot at making the big club.
“Everybody’s battling right now,” said Vigneault. “There’s five more (exhibition) games and we’ve said we’re going to keep the best players that make this team. He’s no different than anybody else.”
Oberg, who saw regular power play duty, set up Edler, playing his first preseason game, during a man-advantage situation midway through the first period.
Edler’s goal came only nine seconds after Oiler defenceman Johan Motrin was penalized for boarding Darcy Hordichuk face-first into the corner. Hordichuck held his composure, and wound up having the last laugh as he netted the winner on a two-on-one with Jannik Hansen with just over nine minutes left in the game.
Highly-touted Canucks rookie Cody Hodgson, playing his first preseason game after recovering from a back injury, rounded out the Vancouver scoring with an empty-netter in the game’s final minute.
Sheldon Souray was the lone Edmonton scorer.
Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo and Edmonton’s Jeff DesLauriers went the distance in goal for their respective clubs as the Canucks outshot the Oilers 33-23.
Each club had four power play chances. Edler's tally was the only man-advantage marker.
Note: The Canucks have suffered their first injury blow of the preseason. Russian rookie Sergei Shirokov, who shares the club’s preseason scoring lead with four points in two games, is expected to miss about a week after suffering a first-degree knee sprain Friday in San Jose.