Daniel and Henrik Sedin shine in Canucks shootout victory over Edmonton Oilers

Enjoy it while it lasts.

This morning, I examined the NHL standings and the Vancouver Canucks are tied for the most points in the Pacific Division.

Of course, we're only two games into the season and the Canucks were fortunate to play their weakest divisional rivals.

Nevertheless, Vancouver's team demonstrated remarkable tenacity last night in coming back from a two-goal deficit to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 5-4 in the shootout.

There were plenty of bright spots in the Canucks' second straight win.

Goalie Ryan Miller looked very steady in turning aside all three shots in the shootout. Newcomers Linden Vey, Nick Bonino, and Radim Vrbata each scored. And Alex Edler finally showed signs of life on the blueline after coming off a brutal year when he was minus-39 with teams at even strength.

But most importantly, Daniel and Henrik Sedin look like they've turned back the clock to 2010–11.

Daniel appears like he's finally over Duncan Keith's notorious concussion-causing elbow to his head.

Last night, the twins seemed liberated on the ice knowing that the disastrous Tortorella era is behind them and they won't be shamed for not blocking the occasional shot.

Daniel notched his 500th assist and has four assists over two games; Henrik has two goals and two assists.

This team, which went into the season with the lowest expectations of any Canucks squad in a decade, looks like it could surprise the fans.

They're playing fire-wagon hockey, aggressively taking the game into the opponents' end of the rink. And the power play is back on track after having all the power of a pop gun last season.

Meanwhile, two of the most-quoted Canucks, Roberto Luongo and Ryan Kesler, are no longer inside the dressing room. They've been replaced by the businesslike Miller and younger forwards.

It's still early in the season, but it leaves me wondering what was going on in Trevor Linden's mind over the past couple of years as he witnessed things start to fall apart.

Did Linden tell owner Francesco Aquilini that the team needed fewer egos not only on the ice but also in the front office? (It's worth noting that Kesler had a goal and three assists in his first two games in Anaheim.)

Is the Canucks' new approach rooted in the belief that in rebuilding the team, younger players will benefit most from the mentorship of modest, intelligent, and community-minded veterans such as the Sedins, Miller, and Kevin Bieksa?

Was the hiring of Jim Benning as general manager and Willie Desjardins as coach anchored in the same philosophy?

Nobody's ever going to publicly admit that they want to rid a hockey team of narcissists, no matter how talented they might be.

But if that was Linden's objective, it might account for the team's apparent joie de vivre this early in the season.

Things might be a little blander without Luongo and Kesler around Vancouver. But if it results in more wins on the scoresheet, it may ensure that Linden remains the most popular sportsman in town.