The Edmonton Oilers’ top line was firing on all three cylinders Sunday.

A lineup led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together with new pre-season addition Trent Frederic, had no trouble handling a visiting Vancouver Canucks squad that left its top-six and best defensive pairing back on the west coast Sunday.

And the big guns began blasting early on the way to a 4-3 win at Rogers Place.

The Oilers No. 1 line gave them a 2-0 lead in the first period, with McDavid, Draisaitl and their fresh linemate addition here in the pre-season, Trent Frederic, each getting in on both goals.

McDavid earned his first of the pre-season, picking up the rebound at the side of the net off a Draisaitl shot and steering it in behind Thatcher Demko.

And Frederic, with a flash of physicality, went hard to the goalmouth and dug in a rebound to double the lead with his first goal of the pre-season.

Then, on the power play with three minutes left in the second period, Evan Bouchard set up Draisaitl from the top of the right circle with a one-time blast to lead 3-0 with his first of the pre-season.

McDavid: Check.

Draisaitl: Check.

Frederic: Check.

The power play: Check.

You could almost hear the collective sigh of relief from the Alberta capital, despite coming into this one tied atop the Pacific Division at 3-1-1 in pre-season play (for what it’s worth), as everything started to come together, albeit against a skeleton Canucks roster.

But that’s better than not cashing in against that Canucks roster.

The Oilers’ top dogs backed up bark with plenty of bite well ahead of next week’s season-opener at home against the Calgary Flames on Oct. 8 (8 p.m., Sportsnet).

At the same time, Skinner shut the door on his crease for the first 43 minutes.

The Canucks had a goal by Derek Forbort disallowed early in the second period, due to goaltender interference when the Vancouver defenceman drove to the net with the puck and pushed Stuart Skinner across the line with it securely under his pad.

They scored in quick succession to make it a one-goal game five minutes into the third.

McDavid found Draisaitl in close on a two-on-one rush to ice it with 10 minutes remaining, but the Canucks kept the pressure on until the end, pulling right back within one with a 6-on-5 goal with three minutes left.

Draisaitl had two goals and two assists, while McDavid had a goal and two assists, and Frederic had one apiece, as they improve to 4-1-1 in the pre-season.

E-mail: gmoddejonge@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge

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