The Vancouver Canucks Thread

[sleddy2008]

FROM TSN

RAYCROFT EARNS SHUTOUT AS CANUCKS DEFEAT AVALANCHE

VANCOUVER -- Goalie Andrew Raycroft found there's nothing better than a shutout to erase the memory of a bad outing the previous game.

Raycroft stopped all 18 shots he faced Sunday to backstop the Vancouver Canucks to a 3-0 victory over Northwest Division-leading Colorado Avalanche in his home debut.

The flawless performance came after he gave up four goals on 22 shots before being lifted for backup Cory Schneider in a 7-2 loss Friday to the Anaheim Ducks.

"I feel a lot better," Raycroft said following his third consecutive start after No. 1 netminder Roberto Luongo was sidelined by a hairline rib fracture.

"I felt good the other night. I just kind of lost focus on a couple but tonight I stayed focused all night.

"That was a big win for us. We didn't play our best the other night. Three (games) in four (nights), travel and everything else."

Vancouver, with five other regulars out with injuries, improved to 8-7 with the win and moved into seventh place in the Western Conference.

The Avalanche, who lead the conference, have lost two consecutive games in regulation for the first time this season to slip to 10-3-2.

Colorado looked tired in the finale of a four-game road trip and didn't put much pressure on Raycroft, who made 31 appearances for the Avalanche last season before signing with Vancouver.

Avalanche goalie Craig Anderson, who began the night leading the NHL in games played, wins, saves and save percentage, struggled to control rebounds as the Canucks crashed his crease.

"He's a big reason for their success," said Mason Raymond, who opened the scoring on Vancouver's third shot by shovelling home the rebound of an Alex Edler shot.

"We wanted to get to him and get those second and third opportunities and whack them home."

That's what Ryan Kesler did in the second period when Anderson stopped Sami Salo's point shot but left the puck uncovered in his crease.

"When the (defence) had the puck we tried to get in front of him and make his job hard tonight," said Kesler, who matched linemate Raymond with his fifth goal of the season. "He's human back there and we got to him early and often.

"I thought we played well tonight, especially in the physical department. I thought we outmuscled them all over the ice and dominated them."

Tanner Glass completed the scoring in the third period. Anderson stopped the original shot, but the rebound deflected in off the skate of Colorado defenceman Scott Hannan.

Raycroft, who got his first shutout since blanking the Sabres in Buffalo nearly two years ago as a Toronto Maple Leaf, had to be a little lucky as Ryan O'Reilly and Philippe Dupuis hit posts in the third period.

But he was steady in the first period, squaring up to deny Dupuis after an early defensive giveaway and stop Paul Stastny after Vancouver took the lead.

"The strong part of our game right now is, obviously, our defence group," said Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault, whose injury-riddled club lost rookie Michael Grabner to an ankle injury in the pre-game warm-up.

"Andrew has proven that he can play in this league at a high level, and our guys have to play within our system right now. And I thought our guys did a real good job of that tonight."

Veteran Colorado defenceman Adam Foote said the Canucks' strategy was obvious.

"We knew they were going to throw a lot of pucks on the net and crash the net and we talked about it but they were able to get two goals off point shots and we have to be better for Andy on rebounds," Foote said.

"They capitalized on two of them and it seemed like it took us more than half the game to get into it."

Anderson said he'll have to work on his rebound control and try to give his team a chance to win when offence is at a premium.

"I can't score goals but at the same time it's a good opportunity for me to step up and throw a shutout and get this thing to overtime," said Anderson, who has two shutouts while starting all 15 Avalanche games this season.

Notes: The Avalanche had 10 wins in October, most in that month in franchise history. ... the Avs played 11 of their first 15 games away from Denver. ... Grabner joins Canuck forwards Jannik Hansen, Pavol Demitra, Daniel Sedin and Ryan Johnson on the injured list. Kyle Wellwood (toe) returned to the lineup. ... the Avalanche were missing forwards T.J. Galiardi, Matt Hendricks, Cody McLeod and Darcy Tucker along with defenceman Ruslan Salei.

[gusman]

liked your signature and avatar :D

[sleddy2008]

Thanks Gusman,
Bet you can't guess who is my favorite team LOL

[mabs]

hey, stop stealing all the good players from my farm team :D

[sleddy2008]

Yeah LOL,talk about injuries right now and they still find a way to win.:goteam:

[sleddy2008]

FROM TSN
New York Rangers at Vancouver Canucks

(Sports Network) - The Vancouver Canucks are operating without their star goalie, yet the team has barely missed a beat. Tonight Andrew Raycroft will be looking to continue his strong play as the Canucks host the New York Rangers (TSN, TSN HD, 10pm et/7pm pt).

In Roberto Luongo's absence due to a hairline rib fracture, Raycroft filled in with mostly good results. He allowed only one goal in a win over the Kings on October 29 before getting tagged for four goals in just two periods of a setback to the Ducks on Friday.

However, he bounced back with 18 saves in Sunday's 3-0 victory over the Avalanche, his seventh career shutout and first since November 9, 2007 while with Toronto.

"We didn't obviously play our best in Anaheim," said Raycroft, who is 4-3-1 with a 3.29 GAA lifetime versus the Rangers. "We were a little banged up and a little tired. We just didn't have a great effort. We wanted to come home and play well."

Tanner Glass, Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond scored versus Colorado for the Canucks, who won for the fifth time in seven games (5-2-0).

Vancouver is 6-2-0 at home and plays its next five on the road following this contest.

Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist has never before beaten the Canucks, but given how he delivered last time out, that inaugural victory might be in the cards tonight.

The 27-year-old is coming off his first shutout of the season, a 1-0 blanking of Boston on Sunday. Lundqvist stopped all 29 shots faced for his 21st career shutout and 150th victory of his career.

"It was a fun game. This is what I was used to last year, low scoring and tight," Lundqvist admitted. "I got a little spoiled this year. We have been scoring a lot. The feeling was one mistake could cost us big time."

The Swedish netminder was helped by the return of Marian Gaborik, who missed the last two games due to a lower-body injury but netted his 11th goal of the season versus the Bruins.

Gaborik is tied for second in the NHL in goals scored and leads the Rangers with 19 points. His tally helped lift New York to just its second win in its last seven games (2-4-1).

The forward wasn't the only skater to return on Sunday, as Sean Avery (knee) and Christopher Higgins (ankle) also found their way back into the lineup after one-game absences.

Lundqvist hopes those reinforcements will be enough to earn him his first victory over the Canucks. He is 0-2-0 with a 5.65 goals-against average in two previous starts versus them and allowed five goals on 17 shots in a November 19, 2008 loss to the Canucks that saw him last just 26 minutes.

Vancouver is one of three teams Lundqvist has never beaten. He is 0-2-0 three starts versus Detroit while also losing his only meeting with St. Louis.

New York, which plays in Edmonton on Thursday and Calgary on Saturday, has lost three straight to the Canucks and eight of the last nine meetings overall. That includes a setback in four straight in Vancouver, where the Rangers haven't won since October 11, 1997.

[mabs]

give me my goalie back :D

[sleddy2008]

LOL Mabs as soon as lou is healed schneider will be back LOL:hand:

[whiteheather]

so far so good Raycroft playing well tonight, also last game.....tonight end of 2nd 1-0 for Van, however we need more...should be 2-0

Go Canucks:pepsi:

Final 4-1 Canucks

[sleddy2008]

FROM TSN <br />
<br />
VANCOUVER -- Mikael Samuelsson scored two goals and Ryan Kesler added three assists as the Vancouver Canucks beat the New York Rangers 4-1 in a rare meeting between the teams at General...

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

The St. Louis Blues believed they were due for a breakout game at home. Andy McDonald, Brad Boyes and David Perron paved the way for an offensive outburst.

The trio combined for 10 points, with Perron recording his first NHL hat trick, Boyes netting a goal and three assists, and McDonald contributing a goal and two assists in his 500th career game.

It added up to St. Louis' 6-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night.

The Blues, who were 1-5-1 in their first seven home games, scored four times in the first 7:36 -- including Perron's two goals in a span of 1:54.

"We hadn't played real well at home," said Boyes, who nearly matched his season total of six points. "It was a tough building to play in last year. We've got to get that way again. This was a good way to get going."

Erik Johnson also scored, and Chris Mason made 22 saves for the Blues.

"We wanted to be good early, and that was the message," Blues coach Andy Murray said. "Tonight, we were good early."

The Canucks, who had won three of four, got a third-period goal from Henrik Sedin.

"They beat us to loose pucks, they were the better team 1-on-1 and they had better chances obviously," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said of the Blues. "They played real well. That team came out real hard. Their execution was real good and they took it to us real hard in the first period. They had some quality chances and they buried them."

Andrew Raycroft, who had been 4-1 with a 1.60 goals-against average while No. 1 goalie Roberto Luongo was injured, allowed four goals on 13 shots before being replaced after the first period.

"Obviously it was a tough first period," Raycroft said. "Four goals in eight minutes is not good enough."

Luongo then made his first appearance since Oct. 27, when he broke a rib. He was not expected to play until Thursday in Detroit.

"That's the only positive thing," Luongo said. "I got some minutes, but it's tough. You don't want to come in situations like that."

McDonald scored 18 seconds into the game, beating Raycroft with a wrister from the slot after a drop pass by Boyes. Perron's deflection in the slot of Boyes' shot from the top of the left circle at 5:42 made it 2-0.

"We came out pretty hard," McDonald said. "We generated a lot of chances in the first. It's something we've failed to do in the past. We've been struggling to score goals, so it was nice to be able to come out and jump on them a little bit and get everybody rolling."

Johnson, who missed last season due to a knee injury, scored his first goal since March 28, 2008, when his feed into the slot deflected into the net off Canucks winger Matt Pettinger's skate at 6:53.

Perron netted his sixth of the season by sending in a wrist shot from the right circle at 7:36, giving the Blues a 4-0 lead.

Boyes' third of the season came on the power play, a one-timer from the left circle off a feed from McDonald past Luongo at 18:45 of the second period.

Sedin broke Mason's shutout bid 1:02 into the third when his backhander trickled over Mason and across the goal line after the goalie was picked by Ryan Kesler behind the net.

Perron completed his hat trick when he deflected in Johnson's shot 15:53 into the third.

"It's always good to get a goal, and it's even better to get two, and even better to get three," Perron said. "The most important thing was we got a lot of shots. We got some goals, finally, so it felt good."

Notes: It was the first meeting between the teams since the Canucks swept the Blues in the first round of the playoffs last season. ... The Blues' four goals in the first 10 minutes marked the third time they've accomplished such a feat. The team record for quickest four goals at the start of a game is 6:41 set on Feb. 6, 1973, against the Canucks. ... Vancouver LW Daniel Sedin (broken foot) was on the ice Tuesday morning but didn't play. Sedin, sidelined since Oct. 10, could be in the lineup Thursday at Detroit. ... Blues LW B.J. Crombeen and Canucks D Kevin Bieksa fought each other twice. ... The Blues are 3-for-35 on the power play in eight home games after going 2-for-7 Tuesday.

[sleddy2008]

From Tsn

DETROIT -- Henrik Zetterberg scored midway through the third period and Jimmy Howard made 31 saves, giving the Detroit Red Wings a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.

Zetterberg took a long pass from Brad Stuart, slipped past the defence and lifted a backhander over Roberto Luongo's left shoulder for his team-leading 17th point.

Luongo made 26 saves in his first start since facing Detroit on Oct. 27 when he aggravated a broken rib. After Luongo was pulled for an extra skater, Niklas Kronwall cleared the puck from the Red Wings' end, got a fortunate bounce off the boards and it trickled into the empty net.

Tomas Holmstrom gave Detroit a 1-0 lead late in the first period. Vancouver's Mason Raymond tied it in the second.

Detroit won its third consecutive home game and is 5-1 after a .500 start.

The Canucks have lost three in row and close a five-game road trip Saturday at Colorado.

Vancouver outplayed the Red Wings for much of the game, but left Joe Louis Arena without much to show for it.

The Canucks outshot Detroit 15-5 in the first period and after an evenly played second period, it controlled the action in the third until Zetterberg scored at the eight-minute mark.

Detroit lost players in the off-season who combined to score 88 goals. Zetterberg, Holmstrom and Pavel Datsyuk have produced enough to make the defending Western Conference champions competitive after struggling early in the season.

Holmstrom had eight goals and three assists in his previous 11 games, producing like the player he was before injuries led to him missing 29 games and scoring just 14 times last season.

He scored his ninth from his usual spot -- standing in front of the net. Datsyuk and Zetterberg passed the puck to each other along the endboards, then Zetterberg skated to a corner and perfectly set up Holmstrom with a centring pass.

NOTES: Steve Yzerman dropped the ceremonial first puck in a pregame ceremony, honouring him after he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night. ... Vancouver's Jannik Hansen played for the first time this season, returning from a hand injury. ... Drew Miller made his Detroit debut, a day after being claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay. He filled in for Kirk Maltby, who was feeling ill. ... Howard earned his second career victory Oct. 27 at Vancouver, where he made 20 saves after Osgood was pulled.

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

NEWARK, N.J. - For one night, Roberto Luongo held the upper hand over Martin Brodeur in the duel to be Canada's starting Olympic goalie.

While a decision on who will get the bulk of the playing time at the Olympics in Vancouver in February is still a while away, Luongo laid out a compelling case Wednesday night in a showdown featuring two of the NHL's top goalies.

Luongo made 27 saves, and Henrik and Daniel Sedin had a hand in three first-period goals as the Vancouver Canucks beat the New Jersey Devils 5-2.

"I've got to check my phone to see if Steve Yzerman texted me," said Luongo with a smile, referring to the executive director of Canada's Olympic team.

If Yzerman was watching, he saw Luongo impressively shut out the Devils over the final two periods.

Luongo was at this best late in the second with Vancouver holding a 3-2 lead. Luongo, flat on his back, made three point-blank stops on Zach Parise who had his 10-game point streak snapped.

"It was a bang-bang play," Luongo said. "Once I made the initial save, I was just trying to get some low coverage. Luckily they didn't have much time to lift it over me."

The final shot in the sequence somehow rolled under Luongo and out of the crease.

"I didn't see it because I was laying on my back," Luongo said. "At that point, I was doing a Dominik Hasek impression."

That's not a bad way to impress Canadian Olympic hockey officials.

Alex Burrows, Sami Salo, Daniel Sedin, Alexander Edler and Jannik Hansen had goals for the Canucks, who won for the fifth time in seven games.

Niclas Bergfors and Travis Zajac scored for the Devils, who had won three straight and six in a row at home. Brodeur made 21 saves in one of his poorest outings of the season.

"It's that one game that people see us matched up," Brodeur said of the matchup with Luongo. "It is what it is. For me, it's just a disappointing loss for us."

And one that got out of hand quickly for the Devils.

After a tentative opening five minutes, the tempo turned fast and furious with the Canucks leading 3-2 after one period.

It was all Vancouver early, with the Sedin twins combining for four points as the Canucks jumped out to a 3-0 lead. It marked the 70th time both of the Sedins recorded multiple points in an NHL game.

Burrows got the Canucks rolling with his third goal in four games. Daniel Sedin flipped a shot on net that Burrows deflected. It hit Brodeur's glove before trickling in at 6:33.

Salo got the second Canucks goal with a slap shot from the right point at 10:03 as Mikael Samuelsson, right in front of the crease, screened Brodeur.

The Canucks caught the Devils in a line change, leaving Daniel Sedin wide open in the left circle to rip a shot past Brodeur at 12:32.

Then the momentum shifted in New Jersey's favour.

Bergfors put the Devils on the board, taking a drop pass from Andy Greene to beat Luongo from the left circle at 16:05 with the teams skating 4-on-4.

New Jersey mounted its best sustained pressure in the final minute and it paid off as Zajac scored with 6 seconds left.

In the third, Edler put the Canucks up 4-2 at 1:36, flipping a shot from above the left circle between the legs of Devils centre Rob Niedermayer and Brodeur.

Vancouver put the game out of reach at 5:18 as Hansen polished off a 2-on-1 break with Kevin Bieksa.

Luongo came up strong midway through the period when the Devils had a 5-on-3 power-play advantage for 1:06. He turned away Zajac and Patrik Elias, preserving the Canucks' 5-2 advantage.

"It was not a good start for us," Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said. "We were lucky to get two goals back and make it a game at that point. We did play better in the second period, but not good enough. It was one night when nothing was working and our guys didn't have the legs they had in other games."

NOTES: The Devils, ravaged this season by injuries, got Niedermayer back after he missed 11 games due to an upper body injury. The Devils activated Niedermayer from the injured list and assigned C Tom Sestito to Lowell (AHL). ... The Canucks started a four-game road trip that will take them to Philadelphia, Carolina and Nashville.

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

PHILADELPHIA -- Roberto Luongo made 38 saves and defenceman Willie Mitchell broke a scoreless tie and the Vancouver Canucks topped the struggling Philadelphia Flyers 3-0 on Thursday night.

Philadelphia was shut out in back-to-back games for the first time since February 2003 and the Flyers have not scored in 160:04 going back to Braydon Coburn's goal late in the first period of a 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 27.

The Flyers have lost three straight and six of their past seven.

Mitchell scored at 13:38 of the second period when he picked up a loose puck in front of the Philadelphia net and scooped a backhand over the shoulder of Flyers goaltender Brian Boucher, who finished with 26 saves.

It was Mitchell's third goal of the season and his first in 22 games.

The Canucks won for the fourth time in five games and picked up a second straight convincing win to begin a four-game East Coast trip. The Canucks beat the Devils 5-2 on Wednesday night.

Vancouver added a goal four minutes later. Daniel Sedin's shot was redirected off the back of Alexander Burrows. Christian Ehrhoff finished the scoring with 3:19 left in the game with a slap shot that trickled past Boucher for his seventh goal. Henrik Sedin added two assists.

That was more than enough offence for Luongo. He made a nice save of Arron Asham's tip-in attempt late in the second period and came up big on a power play early in the third period, stopping another chance by Asham and then a slap shot from Chris Pronger.

[sleddy2008]

From the Vancouver Sun

Vancouver faces a Carolina team that has won only five games this season

Have you heard the news about the Carolina Hurricanes?

They have been downgraded to the Tropical Storms.

Actually, Zephyrs might be a better fit as these Hurricanes certainly haven't packed much punch this season.

Carolina heads into Saturday’s matinee against the Vancouver Canucks with a horrendous record of 5-17-5 and riding a five-game losing streak. The Hurricanes' 15 points are eight fewer than any other NHL team.

And the Canucks, of course, wanted to hear none of that after Friday's practice at the RBC Center.

"Complacency can kill you very quickly," said centre Ryan Johnson. "It's something we'll nip in the bud very early when we get in the room tomorrow. There aren't any easy games. A team that is struggling and a team that has got some injuries is a dangerous team. We're going to have to play the same game, if not even better, to have a win against a tough team."

"We're not in a position to take it easy," added Vancouver winger Alex Burrows. "We're still out of the playoffs and our goal is to get in that top eight so we have to make sure we keep winning games."

The Canucks head into Saturday’s game a confident bunch after big road wins in New Jersey and Philadelphia and hope to keep building on the momentum those victories brought.

"I think we're getting it together," said goalie Roberto Luongo, who will get a rest Saturday as Andrew Raycroft makes his first start in nearly four weeks. "We've had everybody back for a few games and you can see that the team is really starting to play well as a unit. We have won two big games on the road right now and we just want to keep the momentum going."

"I think we're finally starting to get close to being where we need to be as far as having our game and having it consistently and that's going to be huge as we make this run to kind of start working our way up the standings," said Johnson. "It's pivotal that we stay at this pojnt and push ourselves to get even better."

The Canucks have dominated Southeast Division opponents in recent years. They are 25-4-4-3 against Southeast teams since the 2000-01 season and have won six of their last seven games against the Hurricanes, who have been beset by injuries this season and haven't won yet won a game on the road.

The Hurricanes have had some good news in recent days. Goalie Cam Ward, who has been out since Nov. 7 with a knee injury, practised with the team both Thursday and today. He is scheduled to return next week.

Manny Legace will start in goal Saturday against the Canucks.

But just as they prepare to welcome back Ward, the Hurricanes lost defenceman Joe Corvo with a deep cut to his right leg suffered in Monday night's loss to the Washington Capitals.

They'll get no sympathy from the Canucks, who had to weather their own string of injuries earlier this season.

"We're not really worried about them," said Vancouver defenceman Kevin Bieksa. "We have to prepare for this game just like we did the last two games. We worried about ourselves and the way we are playing. We still have a ways to go up in the standings. We're trying to get back to .500 on the road. We're going to play them as hard as anyone else."

Other than Raycroft getting the start in goal, Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said he plans no other changes to his lineup Saturday.

[gusman]

Canucks is on the roll! And they have the good line up of next opponents.. Time for them bring more W!:yeaah:

[sleddy2008]

Canucks is on the roll! And they have the good line up of next opponents.. Time for them bring more W!:yeaah:

Let's hope Gus,let's hope. They have the longest road trip in NHL history( 6 weeks) during the Olympics and need points now.

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

The Vancouver Canucks had not lost a game in Nashville in more than three years. Martin Erat took care of that.

Erat had his second career NHL hat trick and added an assist to lead the Nashville Predators to a 4-2 victory over the Canucks on Tuesday night.

The Predators beat the Canucks at home for the first time since Nov. 23, 2006. After winning the first two games of a four-game trip, the Canucks lost at Carolina and Nashville.

Patric Hornqvist had the other goal for the Predators. Ryan Kesler and Daniel Sedin scored for Vancouver.

Erat gave Nashville a 1-0 lead at 4:19 of the first period. He corralled a loose puck below the goal line and banked a shot in, first off the goal post and then off the left skate of goalie Roberto Luongo.

Erat struck again at 3:03 of the second period. With the Predators on the power play, Francis Bouillon sent Erat into the Vancouver zone with a tape-to-tape pass from the red-line. Erat skated toward Luongo and beat him between the pads with a forehand to backhand move.

"We made a few mistakes, but you can only go to the well so many times before it bites you," Luongo said. "Taking penalties every game, you get away with it sometimes, but it's going to hurt you once in a while."

After scoring just one goal in his first 17 games, Erat has eight in his last 10. His only other three-goal game was March 4, 2008, at Edmonton.

"They didn't bounce for me at the beginning of the season, and I just tried to get myself together," Erat said. "I'm happy they are just going in right now."

Steve Sullivan assisted on Erat's first two goals.

Vancouver cut the lead to 2-1 at 12:12 of the second with a power-play goal.

With the Canucks on a 5-on-3 advantage, Henrik Sedin found Kesler alone in front of goalie Pekka Rinne where Kesler had an easy tap-in for his sixth goal.

Kesler's goal snapped a stretch of four games in which Vancouver went without a power-play goal.

"Right now, we have guys that can play a lot better, that have to play a lot better," Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said. "We need to start watching the standings here a little bit more and the importance of these games right now that we're finding ways to lose."

Rinne finished the night with 34 saves, recording his 12th win of the season.

"Vancouver played a really gritty, in your face game, but we managed the game really well," Rinne said. "It was a huge two points for us."

Hornqvist recorded Nashville's second power-play goal of the game at 11:27 of the third period when he completed a tic-tac-toe passing play off feeds from Erat and Predators captain Jason Arnott.

"The Hornqvist goal was a really well executed play," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "The power play had some more looks today. They entered better, and then they executed better."

Daniel Sedin scored at 16:25 of the third to cut the Predators' lead to 3-2, but Erat sealed Nashville's win with an empty-netter.

"I was just trying to make it to the red line, so I didn't get icing, and I shot it on the net," Erat said of the empty-net goal. "I'm just happy it went in."

NOTES: The Predators are 13-1 when scoring a power-play goal this season. ... Eight of Erat's nine goals this season have been scored at home. Vancouver D Alexander Edler left the game midway through the first period after being hit by Nashville D Shea Weber. ... Daniel and Henrik Sedin both have points in four consecutive games.

:disappointed:

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

After a lengthy and frustrating offensive drought, hockey is becoming fun again for Ryan Kesler.

The Vancouver centre scored and set up the insurance goal as the Canucks beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-1 on Monday night.

Kesler has now scored in back-to-back games, and in three of his last four, after going 14 games without scoring.

"It's about time," said Kesler of his recent scoring. "I was biting it for a little bit there--14 games, but who's counting? I'm getting bounces now and hockey's starting to be fun."

Sami Salo, with the game-winner, and Mason Raymond also scored for the Canucks. Raymond added an assist.

Alexander Frolov replied for the Kings, who struggled on the power play, going 0-for-5. The Canucks ended the night 1-for-5 and outshot the Kings 28-25 overall.

The Canucks (19-14-0) posted their third straight win and jumped over the Detroit Red Wings into a tie for eighth place in the Western Conference with the Dallas Stars.

Despite the loss, the Kings (21-11-3) retained first place in the West, but were denied a chance to move into first place overall in the NHL. The Kings were also unable to record points in nine-straight games for the first time since 1980.

In the nine games since the Kings last played in Vancouver -- a 4-1 defeat -- they suffered only a shootout loss to St. Louis. But the Kings generated little in the way of a sustained attack against the Canucks on Monday.

The Los Angeles power play is now 0-for-11 in three games against Vancouver this season -- all losses.

"We didn't come out strong as we wanted to," said Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick. "We didn't play that first 20 as well as we wanted to. It's not an easy task coming into this rink and taking control in the first period but you still have to compete and fight off that wave of momentum they throw at you right at the beginning."

Kesler opened the scoring on Vancouver's first shot just 1:04 into the game, burying the rebound off a Raymond slapshot that was deflected by Mikael Samuelsson.

Canucks defenceman Shane O'Brien triggered the play by hustling into the zone to get a clearing attempt and then dropping a pass to Raymond.

"This game's a lot about confidence," said Kesler. "It's a funny game that way. You have confidence and you're working hard but it seems like it's effortless out there but I'm getting the bounces and I'm feeling good right now."

A minute after Kesler's goal, Los Angeles coach Terry Murray tried to rally his troops during an early timeout. But Kesler helped keep the Kings off the scoreboard for most of the first.

"I thought that after the timeout we started to pick it up a bit," said Murray. "I thought in the second and the third period, there were some good things happening. We had our opportunities on the scoring side of things. We just couldn't get it done."

Kesler played an important defensive role during a five-on-three L.A. power play for 46 seconds in the opening period. Moments after, Roberto Luongo came up big on a Kings power play by kicking out a Drew Doughty slapshot. Then Kesler threw himself in front of another Doughty point shot.

"It was one of our best (games) of the year," said Luongo. "We came out with an early lead and really played well the rest of the way and never gave them much as far as scoring chances are concerned."

Salo put the Canucks ahead 2-0 on a power play at 17:15 of the first with assists from twin brothers Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who both extended their point streaks to seven games. The goal was Vancouver's fourth with the man-advantage in the past two games.

Frolov cut the deficit to 2-1 with just 17 seconds left in the first after Luongo failed to corral a Randy Jones rebound.

"I thought we really had control of the middle of the ice," said Vancouver defenceman Willie Mitchell. "In the D zone, we really had them not in the dangerous areas. Therefore, they didn't get a lot of chances, and we capitalized on ours."

Raymond added the insurance goal, his career-high 12th in a season, at 14:48 of the third when he took a pass from Kesler before sneaking around defenceman Matt Greene and sliding the puck through Quick's legs.

Luongo and Mitchell, who had a highly-publicized scuffle with the centre in practice last Friday, said it was just a matter of time before Kesler started scoring consistently again.

"Goals are like bananas," said Mitchell. "They come in bunches. It just seems to happen where you get one, you get a few. He was getting lots of chances. Sooner or later, they were going to go in. Now, he's scoring. We need that out of him."

Notes: L.A. lost centre Jarret Stoll to a groin injury in the third . . . Canucks centre Kyle Wellwood returned to the lineup after being scratched from the previous two games. Wellwood took his first penalty of the season. ... Vancouver recalled defenceman Aaron Rome from Manitoba of the American Hockey League, where he completed a seven-game conditioning stint. He was scratched along with winger Darcy Hordichuk. ... L.A. winger Wayne Simmonds missed his second straight game with a lower-body injury. ... The Kings appear destined to make the playoffs for the first time since 2001-02 under then coach Andy Murray. ... In a sign that the Kings are cool again, L.A. hockey writers have resumed travelling with the club in mid-season. ... Team Canada executive Kevin Lowe scouted the game.

[sleddy2008]

From Canucks DC

DUCKS (12-13-7) at CANUCKS (19-14-0)

Last 10: Anaheim 4-2-4; Vancouver 7-3-0.

Season Series: This is the second of four meetings between the teams this season. The Ducks cruised to a 7-2 win over the Canucks at the Honda Center on Oct. 30. Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan each had a pair of goals in the victory.

Big Story: For whatever reason, the Ducks just can't seem to string wins together, although they have tallied points in eight of their last 10 games. Nonetheless, after pushing the Detroit Red Wings to a seventh game in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, Randy Carlyle's club is tied with the St. Louis Blues for last place in the Western Conference.

Team Scope:

Ducks: Anaheim extended its point streak to five games with a 3-1 win at Columbus on Saturday night, but it was only the Ducks' second victory this month and came just one night after blowing a two-goal lead en route to an overtime loss at Detroit.

"We had a great chance (Friday) night to win the game but we gave it away in the third," Anaheim goalie Jonas Hiller said. "We were able to keep going in the third and didn't get any goals against. That was huge, also, for the confidence of the team."

Canucks: Vancouver won its third straight game on Monday night as Roberto Luongo made 24 saves and Ryan Kesler had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 victory against the Los Angeles Kings at GM Place. The win pulled the Canucks within six points of the first-place Colorado Avalanche in the Northwest Division.

"When we have all lines firing were a pretty good team," said Mason Raymond, who also scored on Monday. "When we're skating and going north-south and getting pucks towards the net we know we are being effective."

Who's Hot: Ducks forward Dan Sexton scored for the third consecutive game on Saturday and has four in five games since being promoted from AHL Manitoba, while Ryan has three multi-point efforts in his last five contests. … Kesler has three goals in his last four games, while Canucks center Henrik Sedin has notched at least a point in seven straight contests and has 14 assists during that span. He ranks second in the League with 42 points.

Injury Report: Ducks center Ryan Carter (foot) is expected to return later this month, while right wing Teemu Selanne may not return until January due to a broken hand. … Canucks defenseman Alex Edler is likely to miss two weeks with an upper-body injury, while forward Pavol Demitra (shoulder) hopes to return later this month. Michael Grabner (ankle) is out indefinitely.

Stat Pack: With Saturday's win at Columbus, the Ducks stopped a nine-game road losing streak that dated to Oct. 10 when they won at Philadelphia. They went 0-5-4 over that stretch.

Puck Drop: "It's nice to hear my name when it doesn't say, 'Vancouver Canucks penalty by' … because that's how I usually hear it." -- Canucks defenseman Shane O'Brien, who has two assists in three games

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

VANCOUVER - Saku Koivu's power-play goal at 15:48 of the third period gave the Anaheim Ducks a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.

Koivu converted a goalmouth pass from rookie Kyle Calder while Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa was serving a tripping penalty. Surprising rookie Dan Sexton had the second assist on the winner.

Sexton, who began the season in the ECHL and also spent time in the AHL, recorded two assists, extending his points streak to four games. He now has seven points in six career NHL games.

The Ducks (13-13-7) posted their third win in the past four games. The Canucks (19-15-1) saw their win streak end at three games. They have yet to record four straight victories this season.

The Ducks outshot the Canucks 34-30, incliding 13-2 in the first period and 24-13 after 40 minutes. Vancouver came alive in the third while trying to overcome a 2-1 deficit.

Bobby Ryan, in the first period, and Ryan Getzlaf, in the second, also scored for Anaheim

Henrik Sedin and Steve Bernier replied for the Canucks, who were blanked on five power play chances while the Ducks scored on one of four.

Ryan opened the scoring at 11:48, beating Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo through the legs after Canucks defenceman Shane O'Brien turned the puck over in the neutral zone.

Henrik Sedin tied it 1-1, beating Jonas Hiller on Vancouver's second shot of the game at 17:07 of the first period. Henrik Sedin took a cross-ice pass from twin brother Daniel after the puck bounced over Ducks defenceman Scott Niedermayer's stick near the Anaheim blue-line.

Henrik Sedin leapfrogged New York Rangers sniper Marian Gaborik into second place in the NHL scoring race behind Joe Thornton of the San Jose Sharks.

The Sedins helped each other extend their point streaks to eight games apiece. It was Henrik's first goal in the streak.

The Canucks did not get their third shot of the night until about seven minutes had expired in the second period. But Luongo held the Ducks at bay until Getzlaf beat him on a rebound midway through the second period.

Fans protested the goal because, moments earlier, Kyle Calder tangled with Luongo and sent him to the ice momentarily. He still managed to dive across his crease and make a sensational save on Sheldon Brookbank, but Getzlaf easily fired the rebound into an open net.

O'Brien then fought Kyle Chipchura and Darcy Hordichuk squared off with fellow tough guy George Parros. The fights seemed to jolt the Canucks to life.

Bernier tied the game at 2-2 at 2:03 of the third. Hiller failed to snare a Tanner Glass shot from a sharp angle and Bernier poked in the rebound.

It was Bernier's first goal in nine games

The Canucks had a chance to take the lead a few minutes later, but Hiller robbed Alex Burrows -- ensuring there was no rebound this time -- as he one-timed Daniel Sedin's backhand pass from behind the net. He robbed Burrows again later on back-to-back chances before Koivu scored the winner.

Notes--Ducks winger Joffrey Lupul, who missed his third straight game, is due to undergo back surgery and will miss six to eight weeks . . . Canucks centre Kyle Wellwood returned to the press box as he was scratched for the third time in four games . . . The Ducks will play almost half their season on consecutive nights. Wednesday's contest marked the beginning of their sixth of 17 sets of back-to-back games . . . Anaheim winger Mike Brown played his 100th career game. He broke into the league with the Canucks

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

VANCOUVER -- Mason Raymond showed his value to the Vancouver Canucks at both ends of the rink Friday night.

The left-winger scored the tying and winning goals, and Canucks netminder Roberto Luongo stopped a third-period penalty shot as Vancouver got past the Washington Capitals 3-2.

Raymond provided Vancouver with offence, while playing against -- and shutting down -- Alex Ovechkin and Washington's top line most of the night.

But it was Luongo who preserved the Canucks's fourth win in their last five games.

After Raymond gave Vancouver a 3-2 lead with under six minutes to go, the Capitals' Alexander Semin was pulled down on a breakaway.

As Semin moved in on the ensuing penalty shot, Luongo shot out his left pad to keep the game at 3-2.

"It was Semin so I was playing shot the whole way, took as much net away as possible and once he went for the shot I went down right away and was able to get a pad on it," said Luongo, who finished with 25 saves.

Moments earlier, Raymond buried a rebound off a goalmouth scramble for his 14th of the season and fifth goal in five games. Capitals defenceman Tom Poti was off serving a double-minor for cross-checking and unsportsmanlike conduct.

"I didn't like the call on the last penalty against us, but it was a good hockey game," said Washington coach Bruce Boudreau, who was impressed how Vancouver contained Ovechkin.

"They closed gaps really well. Every time he touched (the puck), they went after him. They did a good job and he couldn't get away from them tonight."

Trailing 2-1 in the second, Raymond faked Capitals netminder Jose Theodore to the ice for his first of the night at 17:39.

"I was just kind of reading my options at first but the way it played out I was able to cut back to the middle and slide it home," said Raymond.

"You're trying to make a fake any time you can and make a play and when the ice opens up like that you can do those sort of things."

Vancouver's second-round pick in the 2005 entry draft would have likely taken a bad shot from the wing last season instead of going hard to the net.

"His goal in the second period showed a lot of poise with the puck in an outnumbered situation where he made a great move on the goaltender," said Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault.

Moments before Raymond tied the game 2-2, Luongo stopped Washington defenceman Mike Green point blank.

"Those are huge turning points in a game," said Vigneault.

"Green was coming right down the gut and could make it 3-1 and we're really trying to fight our way back."

Ryan Kesler opened the scoring early in the first period for Vancouver. He said confidence and speed was a key to shutting down Ovechkin, who didn't have a shot on goal until the third period.

"I keep saying confidence is a funny thing," said Kesler, who scored his ninth goal of the season and fourth in six games.

"When you have it you feel good and it's effortless out there. (Raymond) is playing good, we're using our speed to our advantage and (Raymond) is capitalizing on his scoring chances."

Semin and Chris Clark scored in the first period to give Washington a 2-1 lead after one.

Vancouver improved to 20-15-0 with three games left in their season-long eight-game homestand.

The Canucks, who are 7-1 against the Eastern Conference, also closed to within a point of a playoff position in the West.

The Capitals, who lead the league in scoring, dropped to 21-8-6 with their third loss in five games and missed a chance to leapfrog the first-place Pittsburgh Penguins in the East.

Luongo was particularly busy when Theodore was lifted for an extra attacker late in the third and was forced to punch away a puck slid on goal by Ovechkin.

"I just poked it and I'm not sure if it hit (defenceman) Sami (Salo) or (Ovechkin) but luckily it just squirted back to me and I blockered it away to the corner," said Luongo.

Vancouver's improving penalty kill blanked the Capitals on four power-play opportunities, while the Canucks scored the winner with the man advantage.

"Special teams, that was the game tonight," said Brendan Morrison, who played eight seasons in Vancouver. "Our power play didn't do anything. "

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

The Vancouver Canucks will try to wrap their season-long homestand tonight with one more victory in a matchup with the skidding Edmonton Oilers at GM Place.

The Canucks are a solid 5-2-0 on the residency, improving their home mark on the season to 15-6-0. They were last in action on Tuesday, when brothers Daniel and Henrik Sedin guided the club to a 4-1 triumph over Nashville.

The twins each had a goal and two assists, with Henrik moving into third in the NHL in scoring with 47 points off 16 goals and 31 assists.

"I didn't think they played their best game, but we didn't give them a whole lot, either," Henrik Sedin said. "Our [defensemen] were moving the puck really well, forwards came back, helping them out. We played a really solid game."

Steve Bernier and Sami Salo also scored for the Canucks, while Roberto Luongo turned aside 20 shots in the victory.

The Canucks will try for their third straight win this season over the Oilers, as they lost a one-goal matchup in Edmonton before consecutive home wins in the series. That includes a 7-3 victory when the teams last met on November 28.

Edmonton, which has lost four of its last five in Vancouver, has stumbled to a season-high five-game losing streak following Wednesday's 3-1 loss in Minnesota. To compound matters, the Oilers' current slide follows a five-game winning streak, the club's best of the season.

Robert Nilsson scored for the Oilers, who have lost 11 straight at Minnesota. Jeff Deslauriers stopped 24-of-26 shots in defeat.

"We got a lot of rebounds, but we have to go to the net and capitalize on those rebounds," Nilsson said. "Feels like every shot we make we have to keep low to get rebounds."

Edmonton has been outscored 23-10 over its current slide and will try to avoid losing six straight tonight for the first time since December 18-31, 2007.

Deslauriers, who continues to start in the place of Nikolai Khabibulin (back), is 0-2-0 with a 5.34 goals-against average in two career starts versus the Canucks, allowing six goals on 40 shots, while Luongo is 14-7-2 with a tie and 2.33 GAA in his career versus the Oilers.

[gusman]

Go for the Canucks tonight!

Go Canucks Go!

[chad1976]

go oilers go 4-1 oilers:rolleyes:

[sleddy2008]

From The Sports Network

Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - Daniel Sedin and Ryan Kesler each recorded power-play goals 18 seconds apart in the second period, as Vancouver upended the struggling Oilers, 4-1.

Roberto Luongo made 24 saves and Christian Ehrhoff scored an insurance goal for the Canucks, winners in three of their last four games.

Ryan Potulny tallied for Edmonton, while Jeff Deslauriers stopped 24-of-27 shots in the loss, a season-high sixth straight.

After a scoreless first, Ethan Moreau and Potulny were whistled for separate minor penalties early in the middle stanza.

Sedin broke the scoreless tie on the two-man advantage at the 6:51 mark, and Kesler made it 2-0 shortly thereafter on a tip-in of Alex Edler's shot from the point.

Potulny halved the deficit with a backhander less than 1 1/2 minutes later, but Ehrhoff responded with a backhander of his own just 3:23 into the final period to rebuild the two-goal lead.

Henrik Sedin's empty-netter in the final minute capped the scoring.

Game Notes

The Canucks, who lead the season series, 3-1, finished their homestand 6-2-0...It's Edmonton's first six-game slide since December 18-31, 2007...Daniel Sedin also had two assists...The Canucks went 2-for-6 on the power play, compared to 0-for-3 from Edmonton.

[sleddy2008]

From Tsn

Taking to the road for the first time in nearly three weeks, the Vancouver Canucks will try to pick up a third consecutive victory when they visit the Calgary Flames for a Northwest Division showdown at Pengrowth Saddledome.

The Flames, meanwhile, come into tonight having lost two straight and five of their last six games. As a result, Vancouver is just one point behind Calgary for second place in the division standings.

Calgary is 2-0 against the Canucks this year and this marks the third and final home test of this season series for the Flames. Calgary has won four of six overall against Vancouver and the Canucks have lost two straight and five of their last seven at the Saddledome.

Vancouver ended a season-long, eight-game homestand with Saturday's win over Edmonton. The Canucks went 6-2-0 during the residency and is now tied with Chicago for the most home wins in the NHL with a 16-6-0 record at General Motors Place.

However, the Canucks are just 6-10-0 as the visiting team this year and will begin a four-game road trip tonight. Vancouver will also make stops in Phoenix, St. Louis and Dallas during the swing.

Daniel Sedin and Ryan Kesler each recorded power-play goals 18 seconds apart in the second period to lead the Canucks to the 4-1 victory over the Oilers on Saturday. Vancouver finished 2-for-6 overall with the man advantage,

Roberto Luongo made 24 saves and Christian Ehrhoff scored an insurance goal for the Canucks, winners in three of their last four games.

"Our power play got us on the right track and our penalty killing did what they had to do," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said. "In the third period we kept at it and got the goal that broke their back."

Canucks forward Ryan Johnson missed Saturday's test with a sore foot and is questionable for tonight.

Calgary last played on Wednesday when it was dealt a close loss by visiting St. Louis. Brad Boyes scored the decisive goal in the shootout to lead the Blues to a 2-1 victory at the Saddledome.

After no resolution was reached in overtime, Boyes beat Calgary netminder Miikka Kiprusoff to open the second round of the shootout. Olli Jokinen's bid for the Flames caught iron, then T.J. Oshie, celebrating his 23rd birthday, found the back of the net to secure the extra point for the visitors.

Mark Giordano tied the game in the third period for Calgary, while Kiprusoff finished with 26 saves.

"When you get to a shootout anything can happen, but we've got to find a way to win at home, that's the most important thing," said Calgary head coach Brent Sutter.

Calgary is capping a four-game homestand tonight and has lost three of four and five of its last eight home tests. The Flames are 9-6-2 as the host this season.

[gusman]

Canucks won again against Calgary

5 - 1

I can't wait to see them in highlights.

Too bad that I just have to listen through radio because of the game was on PPV

[sleddy2008]

From The Calgary Sun

Miikka Kiprusoff has made a career of being on the highlight reels.

That’s because the Calgary Flames goalie has made so many incredible saves over the years.

Kiprusoff will be shown on all kinds of loops after last night’s 5-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, but for the wrong reason.

With his team having just fallen behind by a pair of goals late in the second period, Kiprusoff was beat by a goal that had jaws dropping around the Saddledome.

Mason Raymond flipped the puck from centre ice high into the air while there were all kinds of bodies around him.

Kiprusoff either didn’t see the puck, lost it in the lights or wasn’t paying attention. Either way, he didn’t react until the puck hit his shoulder and went into the net behind him.

When you face a Vancouver team with Roberto Luongo between the pipes, you need Grade A goaltending to win. Kiprusoff, who had nowhere near enough support from his teammates, didn’t provide that top-flight netminding and was pulled after allowing four goals on 13 shots in the first period.

Calgary has lost three straight and collected just one win in six outings.

Moreover, the Flames (20-12-5) have fallen to eighth spot in the Western Conference.

Vancouver (23-16-0) is the latest team to vault over them.

When December began, the Canucks were nine points behind Calgary, but are now one point ahead.

The Flames do have a chance to climb with tonight’s game in Edmonton.

The first clash after Christmas actually started well for the Flames. It took more than seven minutes to net their first shot on goal, but it was a success when Jarome Iginla deflected Jay Bouwmeester’s point shot to open the scoring.

It’s the 11th consecutive season the Flames captain has scored 20 goals and 12th time in his 13 seasons.

From there, though, the wheels fell off.

Henrik Sedin and Kyle Wellwood scored 34 seconds apart before the midway point of the opening period to put the visitors ahead.

Then Raymond started his hat-trick performance by using his speed to zip past Dion Phaneuf and deflected Mikael Samuelsson long shot/pass.

Just 44 seconds later, Raymond scored the strangest goal of the night, and he completed his first NHL hat trick with a second-period powerplay goal.

Curtis McElhinney made 15 saves in two periods of relief.

Luongo stopped 29 shots for the Canucks.

The Flames are up to Edmonton for tonight’s Battle of Alberta clash against the Oilers.

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[sleddy2008]

From Sportsnet

Sportsnet has learned that Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis is working the phones in an attempt to trade 40-year old defenceman Mathieu Schneider.

Sighting personal reasons, a frustrated Schneider left the team prior to the Christmas break. A lack of ice and a reduced role on the club are the main issues with the veteran.

In 17 games this season, Schneider has two goals and three assists, averaging 15:14 of ice time.

[sleddy2008]

Canucks won again against Calgary

5 - 1

I can't wait to see them in highlights.

Too bad that I just have to listen through radio because of the game was on PPV

It Was a Beating Gus and I loved every minute of it!!!!!!!!:dancing_peng::hockey:

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

Phoenix has missed out on the postseason in each of the last six seasons, but the club's strong play at home this year could put that unwanted streak to an end.

The Coyotes will try to set a club record tonight with a 10th straight win at home as they take on the Vancouver Canucks at Jobing.com Arena.

The Canucks have won three straight and seven of their last nine games. After a 6-2-0 homestand, they opened a four-game road trip with Sunday's 5-1 win in Calgary.

Mason Raymond netted the game's last three goals for his first career hat trick. The third-year winger has already set career highs this year in goals (17) and points (29) in 39 games.

"It's exciting, it's something I'll always remember," Raymond said. "It's good to get those two points, and that's big for us."

Henrik Sedin and Kyle Wellwood also scored for the Canucks, while Roberto Luongo made 29 saves in the victory.

Vancouver is four points back of first-place Colorado in the Northwest Division and currently occupies the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings.

Phoenix is hoping to make the postseason for the first time since 2001-02 and currently stands fourth in the conference with 51 points. It trails first- place San Jose by four points in the Pacific Division, but lost a point to the Sharks thanks to a 3-2 shootout loss in San Jose last night.

Ilya Bryzgalov made 36 saves, but allowed a goal in the shootout's first round. That was enough for San Jose netminder Evgeni Nabokov, who halted all three skaters he faced in the deciding frame.

"We had a couple good shots and Nabokov played really well. Both goaltenders were phenomenal tonight. You have to tip your hat to both of them, they were unbelievable," captain Shane Doan said.

Doan and Petr Prucha both scored for the Coyotes, who had a three-game overall winning streak snapped.

Phoenix now returns home, where it hasn't lost since November 16. The Coyotes' victory over the Kings on Saturday matched the club's record home winning streak of nine, first set from December 27, 1992-January 23, 1993 when the franchise was still located in Winnipeg.

The Coyotes, who are 15-5-0 at home this year and begin a three-game homestand, haven't allowed more than two goals in any of their last nine wins as the host. Bryzgalov is 15-3-0 with a 1.60 goals-against average in 18 home starts this year, but it is Jason LaBarbera who is expected to start tonight according to Phoenix's official Web site.

LaBarbera, who made eight starts with the Canucks last year, is 2-3-0 with a 2.33 GAA in six games (5 starts) this year and would make his first start since a victory in Columbus on December 17 in which he made 38 saves. He has lost both of his home starts this season.

These two clubs have split their last eight meetings overall and the last four in Phoenix.

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

It might be a sign that Mathieu Schneider's playing days in the NHL are nearing an end.

On Tuesday, the Vancouver Canucks placed the 40-year old blueliner on waivers. Schneider is now eligible to be claimed by Noon et on Wednesday by any club, with the Canucks on the hook for half his remaining salary. If he clears waivers, the Canucks can opt to send him down to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

In 17 games this season, Schneider has two goals and three assists. He missed 10 games in October and November when he required shoulder surgery.

He was signed by the Canucks as an unrestricted free agent last summer to a one-year deal worth $1.55 million. His stop in Vancouver marks his ninth club over 19 seasons in the league. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1987, and has a long resume that includes a Stanley Cup win with the Habs in 1993, along with appearances in two Olympics and two World Cups for Team USA.

[gusman]

So its another PPV game tonight...:no::no:

A win tonight will make the Canucks jump on the standing. from 8th to 5th.

Go Canucks Go!

[sleddy2008]

Another thing Gus is TSN power ranking has the Canucks up to #3 In the league only behind Chicago and San Jose.Top 3 teams in the NHL :yeaah:

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Jason LaBarbera was excited to play against his former team. He was even more thrilled to help the Phoenix Coyotes set a franchise record in the process.

LaBarbera made 28 saves and was perfect in the shootout as the Coyotes set a team record by winning their 10th straight home game, 3-2 over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night.

"It's always weird when you play your ex-teammates especially when it's so close," said LaBarbera, who was the backup to Roberto Luongo last year. "I ended the year with them and we had a lot of good memories in the playoffs and I just wanted to come with a good effort tonight."

Ed Jovanovski and Petr Prucha scored in regulation and Lauri Korpikoski had the lone goal of the shootout for the Coyotes, who surpassed the nine-game streak set by the Winnipeg Jets from Dec. 27, 1992 through Jan. 23, 1993.

Phoenix has won four of its last five overall, only losing Monday night in a shootout at San Jose.

"I'm just proud of how hard the guys competed," said Coyotes coach Dave Tippett. "I mean you've got Vancouver on a winning streak, sitting here last night watching our game on TV. We played a hard, hard game in San Jose and we come back here and the guys muster up that kind of effort, it makes our whole coaching staff very proud."

Mikael Samuelsson and Kyle Wellwood scored for the Canucks, who became the last team in the league to record an overtime loss. Wellwood tied the game with 6:12 left in regulation.

"I've seen Wellwood enough times last year in practice and I knew he was going to slow down," LaBarbera said. "He holds the puck out in front of him so it's a little bit easier for me to get to it."

Jovanovski gave the Coyotes a 1-0 lead midway through the second period on a wild sequence in which Phoenix forward Scottie Upshall was knocked to the ice and Vancouver goalie Robert Luongo was stripped of his stick.

Shane Doan took the puck from Upshall while he was flat on the ice, skated right and then reversed the puck to Jovanovski at the left circle. Jovanovski shot just to the left of the prone Upshall and beat the nearly defenceless Luongo to his blocker side at 10:00 of the first.

Samuelsson tied the game just 49 seconds later when he took advantage of a partial screen and rifled a sharp wrist shot from the top of the right circle past LaBarbera.

"If you think you're coming to Phoenix now for an easy two points that's not the case now," Samuelsson said.

Phoenix regained the lead at 17:02 of the second when Prucha chipped a shot off Luongo and into the net for his second goal in two nights.

Luongo stopped 23 shots for the Canucks.

"We got one of those loser points so everybody can get off our case because we didn't have one," said Canucks coach Alain Vigneault. "But I would rather have won and still have people on our case for not having one of those loser points."

NOTES: Wellwood's goal was his second in as many games. He scored the game-winner at Calgary on Sunday. LaBarbera was making his first start since December 17 and his second in Phoenix's last 21 games. The Canucks have played only three overtime games this season and all three have gone to the shootout. The Coyotes have points in their last eight games (6-1-2).

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

The Blues have struggled at home all season, but one of their best performances at Scottrade Center came against the Canucks. St. Louis will try to duplicate that performance in tonight's home battle versus Vancouver.

St. Louis is just 6-13-2 as the host this year and has dropped seven of its last eight at home thanks to Tuesday's 4-3 setback to Nashville. However, the Blues handed the Canucks a 6-1 loss on home ice back on November 10 behind David Perron's first career hat trick and 22 saves by Chris Mason. The six- goal output is the most by the Blues in a home game this season.

St. Louis also recorded a 3-1 win in Vancouver on December 20 to run its series winning streak to three games. The Canucks have lost two straight and four of their last six at Scottrade Center.

The Blues have lost three in a row overall and the first two contests of a four-game homestand after Tuesday's loss to the Preds. Alex Steen and Andy McDonald both had assists in addition to third-period tallies that brought the Blues within one, but they couldn't net the equalizer.

Carlo Colaiacovo also scored while Mason allowed four goals on 30 shots in the loss, which gave the Blues their longest losing streak since a season-worst five-game slide from October 29-November 8.

"We played frustrated, we took too many penalties and we didn't show a lot of composure with the puck," said Blues coach Andy Murray. "Most of that stemmed from the fact that we didn't manage the puck very well."

St. Louis played without Paul Kariya, who suffered an upper-body injury when he was elbowed in the head during Sunday's loss to Buffalo. He is doubtful to return for this game.

On the other hand, the Canucks had a three-game winning streak end with Tuesday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Coyotes. Kyle Wellwood forced overtime on a goal with 6:12 left in regulation and Mikael Samuelsson also scored in regulation, but he also failed to extend the shootout as Vancouver's final skater in the third round.

Roberto Luongo was the hard-luck loser with 23 saves, as the Canucks lost for the first time this season beyond regulation (23-16-1).

Vancouver defenseman Kevin Bieksa suffered a lacerated left leg in the contest that will sideline him indefinitely.

"They're a good team over there. I thought we played a real strong road game, there was a couple breaks, a guy breaking his stick and Bieksa was kind of hurt there on there other goal, we felt we played strong enough to win," Wellwood told Vancouver's Web site. "We generated enough chances here to win, but they stuck with their game plan and won in a shootout."

Vancouver fell to 1-0-1 on a four-game road trip and 7-10-1 overall as the road team this year.

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

ST. LOUIS -- The reeling St. Louis Blues let another one get away.

Christian Ehrhoff scored a power-play goal 2:24 into overtime, and the Vancouver Canucks rallied from three goals down to beat the Blues 4-3 on Thursday night.

Ehrhoff scored his ninth of the season with a shot from the right circle as the Canucks were on a power play. Brad Boyes was given a four-minute penalty for high-sticking penalty 19 seconds into overtime.

"It was a great pass by (Kyle Wellwood) through the seam," Ehrhoff said. "(Ryan Kesler) was making a great screen there (in front) and the goalie couldn't see it. I just had to put it in the corner."

Henrik Sedin tied the game with 1:56 remaining in regulation for the Canucks, 8-2-1 in their last 11 games. Vancouver scored twice in the third period and sent the Blues, who have the NHL's worst home record at 6-13-3, to their fourth consecutive defeat.

"I thought our guys stuck to the principles out there and battled hard to come back," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said. "We were able to get a power-play goal in overtime 4-on-3."

Daniel and Henrik Sedin each had a goal and an assist, and Mikael Samuelsson also scored for the Canucks, 8-2-1 in their last 11 games. Vancouver defeated the Blues for the first time in three games this season. Roberto Luongo stopped 22 shots.

"Anybody knows how tough it is to come back in this league," Vigneault said. "I know that St. Louis right now is going through a challenging period, but they're still an excellent hockey team.

"To be where we were and come back from a three-goal deficit and win in OT for our confidence and believing in ourselves is real good."

Andy McDonald had a goal and an assist, and Brad Boyes had two assists for St. Louis, 0-3-1 in its last four games.

"They're all difficult," Blues captain Eric Brewer said. "It's certainly a tough stretch for us. At the end of the day, the penalties really took our flow of our game and we were good with it most of the game. They just found a way to get one when they needed one."

Keith Tkachuk scored his 26th career goal against the Canucks and Alex Steen netted his fourth in three games. Chris Mason stopped 26 shots as the Blues fell to 1-7-2 in their last 10 home games.

"We've been here before and they all hurt. I don't qualify losses," Blues coach Andy Murray said. "This hurts just like every loss that we've had."

The Blues took a 1-0 lead during a five-minute power play when Steen notched his seventh of the season on a one-timer from the slot with 3:05 left in the first.

Canucks right-winger Rick Rypien received a match penalty that resulted in the power play for St. Louis after a fight with Cam Janssen. Rypien received the automatic ejection for having tape on his hands below the wrist that cuts or injures an opponent during an altercation. Janssen was bleeding from the nose.

"In my mind, we got put in a very tough position in the first period when we were assessed that five-minute major penalty," Vigneault said. "In my opinion, it was not the right call. The call clearly states that there has to be a cut. There was no cut. It was a broken nose.

"The tape is on (Rypien's) right hand and he threw punches with his left, got him good a couples times and broke his nose. That's not a cut. So I thought the interpretation of that call was wrong."

Tkachuk made it 2-0 at 4:07 of the second with a one-timed shot into an open side after David Perron fought his way past Mitchell.

McDonald gave the Blues a 3-0 lead with 5:30 remaining in the second. Canucks defenceman Sami Salo backchecked on McDonald's breakaway, but the Canucks failed to clear the zone. McDonald slammed in a shot from the left circle.

Daniel Sedin started the Canucks' rally when his shot from behind the Blues' net caromed off the right skate of Roman Polak and off Mason's right skate with 3:51 remaining in the second.

Samuelsson got the Canucks closer when his bad-angle shot from the left circle squirted through Mason at 5:46 of the third period to make it 3-2.

Henrik Sedin tied it with 1:56 left in regulation. Mason failed to cover a loose puck, and Sedin banged it in off an assist from twin brother Daniel.

"We know that their confidence level is not high right now," Ehrhoff said of the Blues. "We know if we can get one, we can push harder and yeah, we got the job done."

NOTES: Tkachuk has 62 points in 64 career games against Vancouver. ... Canucks D Kevin Bieksa didn't play after injuring his ankle from a skate blade Tuesday in a shootout loss at Phoenix. ... The Blues scored four goals in the first 7:36 of a 6-1 home win over the Canucks on Nov. 10. ... Blues D Erik Johnson returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch Tuesday. He is pointless in nine games. ... Steen has 10 points in seven games. ... St. Louis is 13-2-4 when leading after two periods. ... The Canucks, who came in third in the league on the power play, were 1 for 8.

[gusman]

From 3 - 0, they woke up from the dead,

Go Canucks Go!

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

- The Vancouver Canucks, who have won four of their last five tests and are closing out a four-game road trip, will look to stop the Dallas Stars from getting their first three-game winning streak of the season when the teams meet this afternoon at the American Airlines Center.

Vancouver is 2-0-1 so far on the trek and is coming off Thursday's overtime victory in St. Louis.

Christian Ehrhoff scored the game-winning goal 2:24 into overtime, lifting Vancouver to a 4-3 decision at Scottrade Center. The Blues took a 3-0 lead with 5:30 left in the second period, but the Canucks would explode for four unanswered goals to earn the comeback victory.

St. Louis forward Brad Boyes was given a double minor for high sticking 19 seconds into overtime. The Canucks would take advantage of the power play as Kyle Wellwood fed a pass to Ehrhoff, whose slap shot from the right circle beat Chris Mason.

Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin each had a goal and an assist for the Canucks, who went just 1-for-9 on the power play.

Mikael Samuelsson also lit the lamp for Vancouver, while Roberto Luongo turned aside 22-of-25 shots for the victors.

"It's a great boost. This road trip is huge for us and to turn this game around makes a huge difference and we've got to focus on getting another two points in Dallas," Ehrhoff said.

The Canucks are just 8-10-1 as the guest this year. They'll kick off a four- game homestand Tuesday night against Columbus.

Meanwhile, the Stars have won back-to-back games for the third time this year, but the club hasn't strung together three straight victories since a five-game winning streak from January 21-February 3 of last season.

Dallas' winning streak has coincided with the start of a three-game homestand, which is coming to a close today. The Stars beat Chicago, 5-4, on Tuesday and then notched a 5-3 victory over Anaheim on New Year's Eve.

Loui Eriksson recorded a hat trick, and Brad Richards had a goal and two assists, to lead the Stars to Thursday's victory over the visiting Ducks.

Stephane Robidas registered a goal and an assist for the Stars, who have picked up at least one point in 10 of their last 11 home games, going 8-1-2. Dallas is 11-4-5 overall as the host this season.

Marty Turco turned aside 31-of-34 shots to improve to 13-8-8 on the year.

Vancouver and the Stars have split a pair of meetings this year with each club winning a test on home ice. The Canucks have taken five of nine overall in the series, but have dropped two of three and nine of their last 11 in Big D.

[gusman]

Canucks 1 - 0 after second period with Ryan Kesler goal.

It could be tied 1 - 1 but Dallas goal was disallowed due to kicking motion.

[sleddy2008]

Canucks 1 - 0 after second period with Ryan Kesler goal.

It could be tied 1 - 1 but Dallas goal was disallowed due to kicking motion.

3-1 final Gus, pretty good road trip for the boys off til Tuesday.

[gusman]

Canucks won 3 - 1..

Canucks started the goal on second period by Ryan Kesler, assisted by Mason Raymond, Mikael Samuelsson

Errikson of Dallas tied it in the opening of third period, but Daniel Sedin got passed from his brother Henrik for 2 - 1 lead.

Then Burrows on Empty assisted by Ryan Kesler for 3 - 1 win..

Canucks is pretty impressive on their 4 road game finishing with a 3 - 0 - 1 with points to all of them..

Go Canucks Go.....

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

DALLAS -- Daniel Sedin scored a go-ahead power-play goal early in the third period, Roberto Luongo made 31 saves, and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Dallas Stars 3-1 on Saturday.

Sedin took a pass from his brother Henrik in a 1-1 game and flicked a shot toward the crease while Dallas' Mike Modano was serving a high-sticking penalty.

The puck glanced off the skate of Dallas defenceman Trevor Daley and past goalie Marty Turco at 2:38 of the final period for Sedin's 11th goal of the season.

The Sedins were named to the Swedish Olympic team earlier this week.

Ryan Kesler added a second-period goal and Alex Burrows had an empty-netter with 16 seconds remaining for the Canucks, who wrapped up a 4-0-1 trip.

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

The Vancouver Canucks received some awful news on the injury front Monday when they learned that they would be without defenceman Kevin Bieksa for up to three months with severed tendons in his left ankle.

The rugged blueliner originally suffered the injury during the Canucks December 29th loss to the Phoenix Coyotes when he collided with the Coyotes' Petr Prucha. Prucha's skate caught Bieksa just above his left ankle, severing the tendons but missing his Achilles tendon.

The 28-year old Bieksa will be in a cast for six weeks before the rehab process can begin.

It is similar to the injury Bieksa suffered in November of 2007 when his calf was cut open by the skate of Vern Fiddler in a game against the Predators.

In 40 games this season, Bieksa has one goal and 15 assists to go along with a team leading 79 penalty minutes.

The news comes on the heels of the team placing veteran defenceman Mathieu Schneider on waivers.


In other Canucks injury news, the team has placed Ryan Johnson on long term injured reserve with a fracture in his foot.

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

When the Blue Jackets and Canucks met for the first time this season, Columbus was getting off to a solid start while Vancouver was still searching for its first win.

Things sure have changed since then.

Looking to continue its climb up the Western Conference standings, Vancouver begins a four-game homestand tonight at GM Place versus free-falling Columbus, which is trying to end a club-record 12-game road losing streak.

The Canucks lost three straight to begin the season, with that third loss coming to the Blue Jackets, but have since been climbing steadily up the standings. They won six of their next eight following that loss to Columbus and now have 51 points on the season, good enough for the eighth spot in the West.

Vancouver, just three points back of first-place Colorado in the Northwest Division, wrapped up a 3-0-1 road trip on Saturday with a 3-1 victory in Dallas. Daniel Sedin had the game-winning goal on the power play in the third period, Ryan Kesler added a goal and an assist and Roberto Luongo made 31 saves.

Henrik Sedin notched two assists, including one on Daniel's game-winner, and is second in the NHL with 55 points. He posted 20 assists and 25 points in December, earning the top star for the month on Monday, and has four goals and seven helpers on a six-game point streak.

"Confidence comes with being prepared I think, and it doesn't matter what kind of work you have" said Sedin on Vancouver's Web site. "If you're prepared, you know you're going to do well.

Vancouver has won six of its last eight at home and is 16-6-0 as the host this year.

That early-season win for the Blue Jackets over the Canucks was part of a 12-6-2 start that followed Columbus' first-ever playoff appearance last season. However, the club is just 3-13-7 since and has lost 12 of its last 13.

The Blue Jackets were 1-0-2 in their previous three games before Saturday's 3-2 setback to the Avalanche. It marked the 10th straight game that Columbus scored two goals or fewer, a club record.

Derick Brassard and Kristian Huselius got the goals for Columbus, which received 34 saves from Steve Mason.

"We made two mistakes, both defending mistakes, and they end up in the net. We lost coverage on two players. It is a 2-1 game and we're playing great, we come back after the second, they score that goal and it makes it a game," said Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock.

Columbus begins a three-game road trip tonight looking to end a 12-game skid as the guest (0-8-4). It is just 6-12-4 as the guest club this year.

Mason made 40 saves in the 5-3 win at Vancouver on October 5, Columbus' sixth win in the last seven meetings of the series overall and third in last four at GM Place.

Luongo, meanwhile, gave up four goals on 12 shots in that game and was pulled early in the second period.

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

Alex Burrows insists he's not the third twin even though he's having plenty of success playing with Henrik and Daniel Sedin.

Burrows scored his second career hat trick Tuesday to lead the surging Canucks to a 7-3 comeback victory over the struggling Columbus Blue Jackets.

He has found a special relationship with the pair since Daniel Sedin returned to the lineup Nov. 22 after missing 18 NHL games with a broken bone in his foot. Burrows has just one goal while Sedin was out.

"The twins, they do their thing and I do mine and it kind of works out," Burrows said after increasing his goal output to 14 this season.

"They're the ones that are providing the offence. They're the ones that are making plays, especially since Danny's been back."

Burrows' thing is going to the net when one of the twins has the puck.

"All three goals were unreal plays by my linemates," said Burrows who sparked the Canucks after they fell behind 2-0 early. "All three of them were tap-ins."

It was a big night for the trio as Henrik Sedin had a goal and two assists to tie Joe Thornton of the San Jose Sharks for the NHL scoring lead. Both have 58 points.

Daniel Sedin also had a three-point night. He was the architect of Burrows' first two goals and set up his brother's 20th of the season, the eventual game-winner.

Rick Rypien, Sami Salo, on the power play, and Mikael Samuelsson also counted for the Canucks.

Vancouver got six goals past Columbus netminder Steve Mason on 17 shots. He was replaced by Mathieu Garon at 14:53 of the second period.

R.J. Umberger, Kristian Huselius and Kris Russell scored for Columbus.

The victory moved the Canucks into a sixth-place Western Conference tie with Nashville and Los Angeles. They are two points behind Calgary for the Northwest Division lead.

Vancouver, home after collecting seven of a possible eight points on a four-game road trip, won for the sixth time in seven games to improve to 26-16-1.

Free-falling Columbus, which chased goalie Roberto Luongo in a 5-3 win in the Canucks' home opener on Oct. 5, lost their 13th game in 14 starts to drop to 15-20-9.

It was also their 13th straight road loss after a 5-1 start to the season.

"We've been struggling scoring goals and finally we got a couple," said Rick Nash, the Jackets' leading scorer who hasn't had a goal in six games.

"They took it to us and we sat back and let them back in the game. We've seemed to figure out our defensive game in the past five games and couldn't score. Tonight was the opposite."

Nash said the Sedins were the difference.

"They were dominant. To win these games, those are the guys you've got to shut down. We weren't successful tonight."

Burrows said they made his job pretty easy.

"Get on the forecheck, give them the puck," Burrows said. "It seems it just sticks to their blades and they're able to make plays."

Henrik Sedin is on top of the scoring table despite missing his brother for a long period of time The Sedins both had 82 points last season.

"We knew in this locker-room that he's capable of it and he's such a smart offensive guy that he's able to put up some big numbers and compete with the top guys in this league," Burrows said.

"He's playing with confidence and he's working extremely hard with and without the puck."

Henrik Sedin said the Canucks, who equalled a season-high seven goals, have been able to score their way out of deficits this season.

"In years past we score two or three goals and we were able to get wins but it was always tight games," he said. "It's a lot easier physically and mentally to be able to win games like this."

Sedin said the Canucks didn't panic when Umberger and Huselius scored 61 seconds apart. Rypien beat Mason with a shot that dipped under his glove.

"We felt right away when Ripper scored that goal that they fell apart a little bit," Sedin said of the Blue Jackets who have lost 21 of their last 24 games after a 5-1 start to the season.

"You could tell they were a fragile team and we took advantage of it."

Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock said his team was dominated by Vancouver's forecheck but battled until Salo blasted a puck that came loose from a goalmouth scramble for a 5-3 lead.

"They put their weight to us and knocked us off pucks in our own zone and the put it in the net," said Hitchcock who took the Jackets to their first playoff appearance last season.

"We were right in it when the fifth goal unnerved us. We were right there at 4-3 and battling and the fifth goal killed us."

Notes: Burrows' last hat trick was March 27, 2006 against Los Angeles ... the Canucks play eight of their next 10 games at home ... Vancouver centre Ryan Johnson says he's hoping to resume skating next week after fracturing two bones in his foot blocking a shot ... forward Pavol Demitra is back practising with Vancouver teammates as he continues his lengthy rehab from shoulder surgery ... Columbus winger Jared Boll played despite a hand injury received in Saturday's 3-2 loss to Colorado.

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

The red-hot Vancouver Canucks have just one loss in their last seven games, but tonight they face the club that dealt them that setback. Vancouver will try to turn the tables on the Phoenix Coyotes tonight in a matchup at General Motors Place.

The Canucks are in the midst of a 12-4-1 run since the start of December, winning each of their last three games. They returned home on Tuesday after a 3-0-1 road trip, the lone loss on that swing coming in Phoenix on December 29.

Vancouver, tied for sixth in the Western Conference, hosted Columbus on Tuesday, getting a hat trick from Alexandre Burrows in a 7-3 triumph. It marked Burrows' second career hat trick and first since March 27, 2006. He capped Tuesday's burst with a short-handed marker in the third period that accounted for the final score.

Henrik Sedin notched a goal and two assists in the win to give him five goals and nine assists over a seven-game point streak. He also has 30 points over his last 17 games and is tied with San Jose's Joe Thornton for the most points in the NHL with 58.

"Big win for us. First game coming back from a road trip," Sedin said. "They [Columbus] got a lot of talent over there. We knew it was going to be a tough game."

Mikael Samuelsson also scored to give him three tallies and two assists over a five-game point streak. Roberto Luongo made 30 saves for the Canucks, who opened a four-game homestand and improved to 17-6-0 at home this year.

Vancouver has won three straight and seven of its last nine at home, something that should worry Phoenix. Despite last week's home win over the Canucks, the Coyotes' third in the last four meetings in this series, Phoenix is just 2-12-0 with a tie in its last 15 trips to Vancouver.

Lauri Korpikoski had the shootout winner for the Coyotes in the December 29 victory over the Canucks, but the second-year winger has just two goals in regulation on the season. Both of those came in one game, a win over Dallas on November 27, leaving him without a goal in 34 of his 35 games this year.

Phoenix's win over Vancouver is part of its current 7-2-2 run that has the club fourth in the West with 56 points, seven back of San Jose for the most in the Pacific Division.

The Coyotes escaped Edmonton Tuesday with a 5-4 win on Tuesday thanks to Shane Doan's second goal of the game, a power-play marker 1:37 into overtime. Radim Vrbata, Martin Hanzal and Petr Prucha also tallied, while goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov made 38 saves.

The Coyotes led 4-2 and appeared to pad their margin to three in the third frame, but Ed Jovanovski was ruled to have been in the crease and interfered with Edmonton goaltender Jeff Deslauriers to nullify a goal. Edmonton responded a short time later by scoring two goals in 49 seconds to tie the game and force overtime.

"I just flared my leg out and [the puck] hit the inside of my leg," said Jovanovski. I think it would've been a different game at 5-2, but we ended up getting the two points anyway."

Vernon Fiddler returned for Phoenix after missing six of the last seven games with a lower-body injury, while Jim Vandermeer was back in action after missing four contests due to an upper-body issue. However, leading goal-scorer Scottie Upshall missed the game with a lower-body injury and is day-to-day, while Hanzal left the clash in the third period with an upper-body ailment.

[sleddy2008]

4-0 with 5 min left in the 3rd,Burrows has his 2nd hat trick (back to back):yeaah::yeaah::yeaah:

[sleddy2008]

From TSN

Alex Burrows recorded his second-straight hat-trick and Roberto Luongo made 31 saves for his 50th career shut out as the Vancouver Canucks blanked the Phoenix Coyotes 4-0 on Thursday night.

Henrik Sedin assisted on all three Burrows goals to move into sole possession of the NHL scoring lead, moving three points clear of San Jose's Joe Thornton.

It's the first time a Canuck has held top spot since Markus Naslund was tied with Robert Lang, now with Phoenix, on Feb. 18, 2004.

Mikael Samuelsson also scored for the Canucks (27-16-1) as they posted their fourth straight win and 11th in the past 14 games. Vancouver moved into a tie with Calgary for first place in the Northwest Division while the Coyotes dropped to 26-15-4.

It was Luongo's third shutout of the season.

[sleddy2008]

From TSN.ca

VANCOUVER - Alex Burrows says he hasn't scored like this since the street hockey games with his buddies in suburban Montreal.

"It's really cool," Burrows said Friday after his second hat trick in as many games sparked Thursday's 4-0 dismantling of the Phoenix Coyotes.

"Obviously my linemates are playing unbelievable for me. It's been fun but what's been really fun is getting some wins and being on a roll right now."

Those linemates are Daniel and Henrik Sedin who, with Burrows, have become the NHL's top-scoring trio since Dec. 1 as the Canucks have lost only twice in their past 14 games.

Henrik has vaulted to the top of the scoring race with 61 points and Vancouver plays the Calgary Flames for first place in the Northwest Division on Saturday night.

"Danny and Hank have been great together, making a lot of plays and creating a lot offensively," Burrows said after practice. "I'm on the bandwagon and trying to help them out."

Helping out means 17 goals this season, seven in the last three games, and plenty of points for the identical twins.

In addition to being tied for second in goals on the club despite few power-play minutes, Burrows is also responsible defensively with a plus-minus rating of 19, second among teammates.

He flits like a mosquito on a mission to open space in front of the net. If the puck isn't there, he'll join the twins' telepathic puck-cycling choreography in the opposition zone.

Then he'll make another move to a hole near the net and chances are the puck will arrive this time.

Burrows scores most of his goals within four or five feet of the crease. If his short game in golf was as good as it is in hockey, he'd be a PGA tour candidate.

On Thursday night he calmly took two passes -- one at the right side of the net, the other at the left -- and lifted them over Phoenix netminder Ilya Bryzgalov from sharp angles.

The third was scored from one knee as were two more on Tuesday night where he took Daniel Sedin passes and whacked them into the goal during a 7-3 romp over Columbus.

He used his speed to complete that hat trick on a short-handed break, knocking in Ryan Kesler's back-door pass.

On Saturday he could make NHL history with a third consecutive three-goal effort.

"I'm pushing for him," said Kesler who used to team with Burrows on the Canucks' checking line.

"He's in the right place at the right time right now and he's burying his chances. It would be special if he could do that."

Burrows, who played with hip flexor and groin injuries earlier in the season, got hot when Daniel Sedin rejoined the line after missing 18 games with a broken foot.

The twins say Burrows thinks the game like they do and has an underrated shot.

"Right now the puck seems to find the back of the net every time he shoots," said Daniel. "That's what happens when you're hot."

Added Henrik: "We enjoy playing with each other and we read off each other really well and that makes it tough to defend us."

In some ways Burrows, 28, is the anti-twin. He'll go to a knee after scoring and windmill his arm in celebration. Or shoot an imaginary arrow. Or mime breaking a stick over his knee when a goal ends a Canucks losing streak.

The Sedins manage one or two tentative fist pumps.

The twins are soft-spoken but the undrafted Burrows, who began his pro career with the likes of the Greenville Grrrowl, Baton Rouge Kingfish and Columbia Inferno in the ECHL, is an in-your-face pest who chirps with the best of them.

Winning and scoring has been a confidence boost for the Canucks who finally got into a playoff position during a late December homestand after battling injuries.

"You go out there and it seems like nothing can go wrong really," said the lanky six-foot-one, 210-pound Burrows who signed a four-year, US$8 million contract extension last season.

"You're really playing loose and able to make plays instead of (gripping your stick) tight and making sure you can't make any mistakes."

Henrik Sedin hasn't been making many as he leads Joe Thornton of the San Jose Sharks by three points.

"I'm happy I'm up there, for sure," Henrik said after extending his points streak to eight games on Thursday. "I didn't ever think I was going to be close to the lead but it's nothing I walk around thinking about too much.

"I can tell Daniel I've been on top. He might never be there. He's not too happy about that."

[gusman]

Canucks 3, Oilers 2, OT in Edmonton. All scores are in Power Play

go Canucks Go!

[gusman]

Next is Dallas at for Home Game at 7:00 PM PST live at Sportsnet pacific


STARS (21-17-11) at CANUCKS (29-18-2)

[sleddy2008]

Should win tonight!!!!Saturday should be a intense game,hope Rypien is angry and settles some scores.

GO Nucks GO.

[gusman]

Canucks won again, their fourth straight against Blackhawks, 5 - 1. Sedins and Burrows each have 3 points.

Fun to watch....

Go Canucks Go!

[gusman]

Another great game...Canucks won their 5th straight this season...3 - 2 against Buffalo Sabres.

[sleddy2008]

Thanks Gus:thumbsup:

[gusman]

Thanks Gus:thumbsup:
Their last home game tomorrow before the long 14 winding road games.

That 14 straight road games could be a killer...

[sleddy2008]

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 Canucks Maple Leafs
4:00 PM CBC(HD), NHLN-US(HD)

February 2010
Date Visitor Home Time (PT) TV Network/Results
Tue, 2 Feb 2010 Canucks Canadiens
4:30 PM RDS(HD), PPV(HD)

Thu, 4 Feb 2010 Canucks Senators
4:30 PM SNET-P, CSN-NW

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 Canucks Bruins
10:00 AM CSN-NW, SNET-P

Tue, 9 Feb 2010 Canucks Lightning
4:30 PM PPV(HD)
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 Canucks Panthers
4:30 PM SNET-P, CSN-NW

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 Canucks Blue Jackets
4:00 PM PPV(HD)

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 Canucks Wild
12:00 PM CSN-NW, CITY TV

March 2010
Date Visitor Home Time (PT) TV Network/Results
Tue, 2 Mar 2010 Canucks Blue Jackets
4:00 PM SNET-P

Wed, 3 Mar 2010 Canucks Red Wings
4:30 PM NHLN-US(HD), TSN(HD), RIS

Fri, 5 Mar 2010 Canucks Blackhawks
5:30 PM RIS, CSN-NW, SNET-P

Sun, 7 Mar 2010 Canucks Predators
12:00 PM SNET-P

Tue, 9 Mar 2010 Canucks Avalanche
6:00 PM SNET-P

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 Canucks Coyotes

They will be fine they have had time prepare for this and will not slump!!!!

Go Nucks:yeaah::yeaah::yeaah:

[whiteheather]

A win tomorrow before the long road trip would be, hang on change that to .Will Be awesome..........they are playing good hockey. keep it up lads

Go Canucks.........................even Darlinkat is watching them....must be my charm....:yeaah: or threats lol

[sleddy2008]

Good game last night,Kessler and Raymond come up huge.14 games on the road and a east coast swing Nucks are 8-1 against eastern conference.Keep up the winning streak, leafs Saturday.

[gusman]

A win tomorrow before the long road trip would be, hang on change that to .Will Be awesome..........they are playing good hockey. keep it up lads

Go Canucks.........................even Darlinkat is watching them....must be my charm....:yeaah: or threats lol
and they won their last game before the killer 14 road game..

Gonna be fun to watch the Canucks and Leafs this Saturday

[sleddy2008]

Canucks win 5-3 and strike with 5 unanswered goals after being down 3-0,7 game winning streak go Nucks:2guns::2guns::2guns:

[Newf]

Last I saw was 3-0 Leafs....can't sday I am surprised to see that my beloved Leafs couldn't hang on to a lead...:no:...sad really

[whiteheather]

Watching the game and seeing the first 2 goals go in, and when the 3rd one went in at the end of the 1st period, i felt they had to change goaltenders, and they surely did..........Raycroft played a terrific game, and Burrows short handed turned the boat around..(whats your comments now McLean) and the leafs fell in the winter.....a good start to the road tour....Montreal should be a good game.........the team as a whole played well, and a well deserved win................O'h yes I am a Canuck Fan..lol

[gusman]

Henrik Sedin and Alex Burrows played so well in the month of January that's why both of them been mentioned in Players of the month. Henrik as Second star behind Ovechkin.. Burrows as Honorable Mention

[sleddy2008]

Canucks lost 3-2, congrats Costa Halak stood on his head

[sleddy2008]

Canucks beat Boston 3-2 in shootout:yes::yes::yes:

[sleddy2008]

Canucks lose 3-1 to Tampa Bay:ranton::storm::frusty:

[gusman]

another great game last night..especially H Sedin.

Go Canucks Go!

[gusman]

I'm not wishing Flames to lose tonight as I want more Canadian teams on playoffs but if they lose tonight, Canucks will officially clinch a Playoff spot.

[sleddy2008]

I'm not wishing Flames to lose tonight as I want more Canadian teams on playoffs but if they lose tonight, Canucks will officially clinch a Playoff spot.
I hate to say it but..............


3793

[gusman]

Canucks clinched the Northwest Division Title after winning on Wild, 4 - 3 OT

[whiteheather]

the Canucks blew it in the 3rd, they laid back as usual, however they won in overtime, i watched the game on my p.c and it was broadcast from Minnisota...i wont say anymore on that...lol
if the Canucks think they are going to go far in the play off's, with the way they are playing now....they are dreaming.....i am a Canuck fan. i hope they pick up their play .........................:bump:

[gusman]

I believed!!!

[gusman]

Let the game begin...

Enjoy the game 2

[JCO]

Go Canuks Go... Habs just chocked...

[gusman]

Canucks 1 - 0..

Bernier Score

[gusman]

Canucks 2 - 0

Samuelsson Score

[sleddy2008]

2-2 end of 2nd period.......:stop: no more goals Kings:nono:

[gusman]

series tied at 1 - 1

[reegansmith]

Is tonights game on anywhere on the cnx

[gusman]

Good Job Canucks!!!
7 - 2

[gusman]

Wow, even on face-off, H Sedin is amazing...winning 19 out of 23 against the Kings

[sleddy2008]

Think we have LA on the ropes.:thumbsup:

[gusman]

Did you noticed that Daniel Sedin goal happened when the fourth line of Kings iced the puck? Alain Vigneault knew that the fourth line of kings was there so he matched them with the Sedins twin where D Sedin put the goal on the net....
Nice moved by the coach...

[gusman]

It's official that it will be Canucks vs the Blackhawks on the second round after Hawks beat the Predators..