EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- Sami Kapanen and Ron Francis are becoming a good fit for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Kapanen and Francis each had a goal and an assist as the Hurricanes battled back three times, with Kapanen tying the score at 18:09 of the third period, to gain a 3-3 tie Wednesday night with the Edmonton Oilers.

"Considering the time, with under two-and-a-half minutes left, I thought it might be my last shot," Kapanen said of the tying goal. "I'm happy playing with Ron Francis. He's an extraordinary player in this league."

Francis, in his 19th NHL season, is also enjoying playing with Kapanen.

"He has great speed, and he has a great shot," said Francis, who has 1,493 points in his career.

On the tying goal, Kapanen fired a slap shot from the right circle past Oilers goalie Bill Ranford.

"They're a very gifted hockey club," said Ranford, who made 33 saves in his second start of the season. "They have some skill players. They were really attacking our defensemen."

Robert Kron also scored for the Hurricanes, who are 2-1-2-0 as they continue a nine-game road trip to start the season.

Ryan Smyth, Alex Selivanov and Mike Grier scored for the Oilers, (1-2-2-1).

The Hurricanes held the Oilers to just 15 shots.

"They're a frustrating team to play against," said Oilers coach Kevin Lowe. "They play the trap very well."

Smyth opened the scoring with his third goal of the season at 14:30 on a rebound of a point shot by defenseman Jason Smith, with goalie Arturs Irbe down. Kron pushed in a rebound to tie it on a power play at 18:35.

Selivanov gave the Oilers a 2-1 lead at 12:03 of the second period when he intercepted a clearing pass by rookie defenseman David Tanabe outside the Carolina blue line. Selivanov burst in alone and beat Irbe. Francis tied it at 16:25 when he tipped in a shot by Kapanen.

A second poor Carolina clearing attempt led to the Oilers' third goal, by Grier. Curtis Leschyshyn made the bad play in front of his own net after Oiler defenseman Tom Poti had carried the puck into the Hurricane zone.

Kapanen tied it for the third time with a slap shot from the faceoff circle.