Canucks top Sabres to become last unbeaten team
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[October 21, 2016]
VANCOUVER, British Columbia --
The result was the same, but the Vancouver Canucks followed a
different path to win their fourth consecutive game and tie a
franchise record for the best start to a season.
Jannik Hansen collected his 100th career goal, and Daniel Sedin
scored the Canucks' first power-play goal of the season as Vancouver
defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 Thursday night.
The Canucks improved to 4-0-0, leaving them as the NHL's only
undefeated team. The last time Vancouver started a season 4-0-0 was
1992.
Maybe more important, the Canucks opened the scoring for the first
time this year and held a 2-0 lead in the third period. Vancouver
trailed going into the third period of the first three games, then
won twice in overtime and once in a shootout.
"We don't want to be coming from behind in the third period every
single game," Hansen said. "It's not feasible. It's not something
you can do over a long stretch.
"You have to be able to get a lead and hold onto it."
Hansen's goal at 11:10 of the second period ended a string of 218
minutes, 22 seconds this season in which Vancouver played without a
lead.
Hansen shrugged off the importance of his 100th goal.
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"It's one of those milestones that is more appreciated once you are
done playing," he said. "Right now, it's another number."
The Canucks were 0-for-12 on the power play before Sedin scored
through a crowd on a seeing-eye shot off a rebound at 9:10 of the
third period. The goal put Vancouver in front 2-0.
"We changed a few things in the third," said Sedin, who notched his
second goal of the season. "I thought that kick-started things for
us."
It also was the first power-play goal Buffalo allowed after killing
11 penalties this season.
The Sabres outshot the Canucks 21-14 over the last two periods.
Vancouver needed some big saves from goaltender Jacob Markstrom to
hold onto the win.
"Our work ethic is there," said Markstrom, who made 26 saves in his
third consecutive start. "They took over a little bit after we
scored that goal in the second.
"They really pushed back, and the guys did a good job of blocking
shots and letting me see the shots."
Brandon Sutter, who assisted on both Vancouver goals, said the
Canucks need to be better defensively.
"We don't want to spend that much time in our zone," he said. "They
came a lot harder in the third.
"We found different ways to win these four games. Getting that lead
is good. We have to learn how to play with it."
Rookie Nicholas Baptiste was credited with scoring the lone goal for
Buffalo (1-2-1).
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![](../images/102116pics/sports70.jpg)
Sabres goaltender Robin Lehner (40) and defenseman Zach Bogosian
(47) defend against Vancouver Canucks forward Alexandre Burrows (14)
during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won
2-1. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
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The goal came during a scramble at 11:23 of the third period.
Baptiste, who was behind the Vancouver goal, threw puck out front
that bounced off a couple players. Replays appeared to show Canucks
defenseman Alex Edler kicked the puck into his own net.
"It's obviously exciting for me, but we didn't get the win, and
that's unfortunate," said Baptiste, who was playing in his second
NHL game. "I am happy to get that first one and move forward from
there."
Goalie Robin Lehner, making his fourth straight start for the
Sabres, stopped 18 shots.
"We've got to work on being better consistently," Lehner said. "We
can't have a good half-game. It usually doesn't work in this league.
We have to be better in the first period."
The Sabres have lost their past four games in Vancouver and are
1-9-1 in their past 10 visits.
Buffalo coach Dan Bylsma was pleased with his team's effort,
especially in the second period when the Sabres outshot the Canucks
14-10. He said Markstrom was the difference.
"We had opportunities to sneak one by him to get a goal," Bylsma
said. "We needed to keep pushing, keep playing that way, and we
couldn't come up with it."
NOTES: Canuck G Ryan Miller, who didn't dress for Tuesday's win over
St. Louis due to tightness in his adductor muscle, was the backup
Thursday. ... Vancouver is the first team in NHL history to start
the season with three wins and not lead in any of the games. ...
Canucks scratches were RW Jake Virtanen, D Nikita Tryamkin and D
Alex Biega. ... The Canucks play their first road game of the season
Saturday in Los Angeles. ... Sabres C Johan Larsson dressed after
taking a maintenance day Wednesday. ... Buffalo's last win in
Vancouver was March 3, 2012. ... LW Nicholas Baptiste played in his
second consecutive game after making his NHL debut Tuesday in
Calgary. ... Buffalo's scratches were RW Hudson Fasching and D Casey
Nelson. ... The Sabres' next game is Tuesday in Philadelphia.
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