|
 They nailed it.
Right winger Radim Vrbata scored two goals, including the winner,
and added an assist as the Canucks came back to beat the Winnipeg
Jets 5-2. Vancouver extended its winning streak to three games after
overcoming an early two-goal deficit.
"I'm just happy that we got those two points," Vrbata said. "It was
a four-point game again and a team that is around us in the
standings. I'm just glad that I could contribute and help us get two
points."
Vrbata's team-leading 28th goal of the season at the second period's
19-minute mark gave the Canucks a 3-2 lead. Vrbata then closed out
the scoring with an empty-netter in the dying seconds of the game.
The Canucks (43-26-4) solidified their hold on second place in the
Pacific Division and a potential playoff berth. Vancouver moved four
points ahead of the Calgary Flames and Los Angeles Kings, who both
have 86 points. The Flames currently hold third in the division by
virtue of more wins than the Kings, who are below the playoff bar
for now but still in contention for either a division or wild-card
berth.
Even so, Vrbata was not about to toot his club's horn after the
Kings and Minnesota Wild also kept pace in the playoff race Tuesday.
"It means we got the two points and now we have to get two more
whenever we play," Vrbata said. "It's that tight. L.A. won, Minny
won, so it doesn't mean anything after this. ... We have to keep
winning."
The Jets (38-24-12) saw their win streak end at five games, but they
are still in the Western Conference's second wild-card position, two
points up on the Flames and Kings. As a result, Winnipeg coach Paul
Maurice was not about to complain about his team's effort in the
second of back-to-back games.
"We gave what we had," Maurice said. "We were probably better than I
thought we were going to be able to be through the first 30 minutes
of that hockey game and didn't win. That fight for our guys has
always been there. We were as good as we were physically able to
be."
Vancouver center Henrik Sedin also had an empty-net goal and
furnished a pair of assists. Left winger Chris Higgins had a goal
and an assist, and defenseman Yannick Weber also scored for the
Canucks.
Center Jiri Tlusty and right winger Blake Wheeler tallied for the
Jets.
Vancouver goaltender Eddie Lack stopped 26 of 28 shots.
"I kind of feel like it's huge," Lack said of the win. "Just coming
back against a conference opponent and everything, both of these
teams are right in the thick of it. So, yeah, it's huge."
Winnipeg goalie Michael Hutchinson blocked 25 of 28 shots. He was
steady in his first appearance since a March 12 loss to Florida.
Vrbata gave the Canucks their first lead of the game, 3-2, with one
minute remaining in the second period. He picked up a loose puck
along the boards, cut in front of the Winnipeg net and beat
Hutchinson with a shot from a sharp angle.
The Jets led 1-0 after the first period and 2-0 early in the second,
but the Canucks rallied and held a 3-2 lead at the 40-minute mark.
[to top of second column] |
"Early in the second period, I thought we had a little bit of
trouble getting the puck out and everything," said Lack. "But once
we started controlling the tempo and controlling the game, we got
them right where we wanted."
Tlusty put the Jets on the board only 2:17 into the game as he fired
in a pass by center Eric O'Dell from the corner. The marker was
Tlusty's second in two nights and came on Winnipeg's second shot of
the game.
Wheeler put the Jets ahead 2-0 at 5:07 of the second period as he
jammed in a loose puck following forward Drew Stafford's wrap-around
attempt.
Stafford continued to pay dividends following his acquisition from
Buffalo as part of the Evander Kane trade. The assist extended
Stafford's point streak to seven games. Only Minnesota's Thomas
Vanek (eight games) is on a longer run right now.
Higgins put in a nifty backhand pass from Vrbata during a rush
midway through the second.
Tlusty's needless slashing penalty late in the middle frame proved
costly for the Jets. Weber ripped home a slap shot on the ensuing
power play, creating a 2-2 deadlock.
"That first goal got us back and created a little momentum and then
we were able to score (on) a power play, just a momentum shift, I
guess," Vrbata said. "And we were able to score the third one."
Noting his players have surprised him this season, Canucks coach
Willie Desjardins praised them for continuing to show character and
battle against highly physical teams like the Jets. Still, with nine
games left and a playoff berth not confirmed, he was not about to
get overly excited.
"I've gotta give them a lot of credit, but we've got a lot of work
left," Desjardins said.
NOTES: Canucks D Chris Tanev signed a five-year contract extension
worth $4.45 million per season earlier Tuesday. ... Jets RW Blake
Wheeler played after undergoing dental work to repair damage
suffered Monday against Edmonton. He took a deflected puck in the
face, but he still managed to get back in the game. "A couple root
canals later, he's fine," Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice said. ...
Injured Vancouver G Ryan Miller (knee) skated with his pads on
before the team's morning skate. Club president Trevor Linden told a
Vancouver radio station that Miller might be able to return before
the end of the regular season. ... Jets D Dustin Byfuglien missed
his ninth consecutive game due to an upper-body injury.
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