Michael Grabner slipped back onto the Vancouver Canucks' radar screen Tuesday night.

Grabner's second period goal gave the Canucks a 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in NHL pre-season action. The second-year pro improved his chances of sticking with the Canucks as he helped give Vancouver its second victory over Edmonton in two nights, although both teams iced completely different line-ups than the ones that played Monday in the Alberta capital.

"It's obviously good to get the first (goal) in (my) first game,'' said Grabner, a native of Villach, Austria. "It gets a little easier. I was so nervous the first couple of minutes there but as the game went on I felt better.''

Grabner, Vancouver's first draft choice in 2006, is looking for a second chance to make a first impression with coach Alain Vigneault after spending his first pro season with Manitoba of the AHL. But much of the buzz since the Canucks opened training camp last weekend has been around Cody Hodgson, the Canucks top draft choice, 10th overall this year.

Grabner made Vigneault's job a little more difficult as the coach attempts to replace departed scorers Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison and help the Canucks improve an offence that often struggled last season.

"I try not to worry about it too much,'' said Grabner. "I just try to go out there and play my game and it's up to the coach if he likes my play. So I just try to improve every day and show (management) what I can do.''

He and another youngster, Jannik Hansen, 22, who spent most of last season with Manitoba, impressed as they combined for the winning tally on a power play 2:48 into the second period. Hansen made a fine rush along left wing and slid the puck across the goalmouth to Grabner, who easily put the puck into a gaping net behind goaltender Dwayne Roloson.

Even if Grabner doesn't get full-time employment in the NHL, he isn't going to lose focus on his goals.

"I'm 21 years old so I still have time to improve and I'm obviously here to push for a spot but if not I'll go back to Winnipeg and improve my game and hope I get some call-ups,'' he said.

Darcy Hordichuk, playing his first game as a Canuck after three seasons with Nashville, scored Vancouver's other goal.

Kyle Brodziak replied for the Oilers.

Meanwhile, Hodgson, fared well in his NHL debut Tuesday, but did not produce any points while almost converting a gift scoring chance. He is trying to become the first top draft pick to stick with the Canucks in his first year of pro eligibility since Petr Nedved in 1990-91.

But Hodgson found the going tougher than a recent prospects tournament in Camrose, Alta., where he dominated.

"It was a little bit faster, a little bit quicker, not much time to make plays, but something I can adjust to,'' said Hodgson, 18, who must return to his Brampton Batallion junior club in the Ontario Hockey League if he does not land a Canuck roster spot.

Vigneault said Hodgson had some good chances as he played on Vancouver's first line with former Minnesota Wild star Pavol Demitra, who made his Vancouver debut after signing as a free agent in the summer.

"We want (Hodgson) to have the opportunity to play with quality players,'' said Vigneault. "He's supposed to be an offensive player. You put him with offensive people.''

Vigneault also liked what he saw from Steve Bernier, who rounded out the unit with Hodgson and Demitra.

"The way he plays, he gets under people's skin,'' said Vigneault of Bernier.

Edmonton goaltender Roloson slugged Bernier in the second period. The Vancouver winger's stick him in the mask as he gloved a shot, but no penalties were called.

Hordichuk, sought more for his fighting prowess than his scoring ability, forged a 1-1 tie in the first period, about seven minutes after Brodziak opened scoring, on a pass from Alex Burrows.

The goal matched Hordichuk's offensive output in each of the last two regular seasons.

Vancouver outshot Edmonton 30-20. The Canucks went 1-for-5 on the power play while the Oilers were 1-for-6.

Starting Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo made several outstanding saves. Curtis Sanford replaced him at 14:23 of the second and did not allow a goal the rest of the way.

Roloson played the entire game for Edmonton, stopping 29 shots and even picking up an assist in the losing cause.

NOTES: Henrik Sedin played while his twin brother Daniel sat out . North Vancouver-native, Gilbert Brule, stood out in his first game for the Oilers after being acquired in an off-season trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets for Raffi Torres.

The Canucks will now head to California for a pair of exhibition games where they will face the Sharks on Saturday before meeting up with the Ducks Sunday at the Honda Center in Anaheim.