GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: MINNESOTA (10-8) at VANCOUVER (8-9)

NHL: MINNESOTA at VANCOUVER

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
VANCOUVER 5 11:54 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at VANCOUVER

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
VANCOUVER 5 7:30 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at VANCOUVER

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
VANCOUVER 5 3:36 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at VANCOUVER

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MINNESOTA 1 0 1
VANCOUVER 4 1 5 END OF THE 2ND

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: VAN - TAYLOR PYATT 5 (BRAD ISBISTER, ALEXANDER EDLER) 2:46
VAN - (PP) MARKUS NASLUND 5 (HENRIK SEDIN, BRENDAN MORRISON)
9:16
VAN - MATTIAS OHLUND 3 (ALEXANDRE BURROWS, BRENDAN MORRISON)
11:59
VAN - (PP) DANIEL SEDIN 8 (HENRIK SEDIN, MATTIAS OHLUND)
16:32
MIN - AARON VOROS 1 (KEITH CARNEY, PIERRE-MARC BOUCHARD)
16:45
2ND PRD: VAN - TREVOR LINDEN 1 (UNASSISTED) 2:54

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MIN 8 5 13
VAN 14 4 18

GOALIES: MIN - JOSH HARDING, NIKLAS BACKSTROM
(11:59, 1ST)
VAN - ROBERTO LUONGO</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at VANCOUVER

<div class="pre">------------------------------
Minnesota 1 0 --1
Vancouver 4 1 --5
------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Vancouver, Taylor Pyatt 5 (Brad Isbister,
Alexander Edler), 2:46. 2, Vancouver, Markus Naslund 5 (power play)
(Henrik Sedin, Brendan Morrison), 9:16. 3, Vancouver, Mattias Ohlund 3
(Alexandre Burrows, Brendan Morrison), 11:59. 4, Vancouver, Daniel
Sedin 8 (power play) (Henrik Sedin, Mattias Ohlund), 16:32. 5,
Minnesota, Aaron Voros 1 (Keith Carney, Pierre-Marc Bouchard), 16:45.
Penalties: P Bouchard, Min (hooking), 8:13; B Radivojevic, Min (cross
checking), 16:16.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 6, Vancouver, Trevor Linden 1 (Unassisted),
2:54. Penalties: K Foster, Min (hooking), 3:06; M Ohlund, Van
(slashing), 12:11; M Gaborik, Min (elbowing), 19:40.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------
Minnesota 8 5 --13
Vancouver 14 4 --18
----------------------------------

Goalies : Minnesota, Josh Harding (10 shots, 7 saves), Niklas
Backstrom (11:59 of 1st period, 8, 6). Vancouver, Roberto Luongo (13
shots, 12 saves). Referees: Dan Marouelli, Wes Mccauley. Linesmen:
Lonnie Cameron, Mike Cvik.</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at VANCOUVER

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
VANCOUVER 5 19:55 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at VANCOUVER

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
VANCOUVER 5 16:26 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at VANCOUVER

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
VANCOUVER 5 12:19 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at VANCOUVER

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
VANCOUVER 5 10:24 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at VANCOUVER

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 2
VANCOUVER 5
3RD PRD: MIN - (PP) BRENT BURNS 4 (PIERRE-MARC BOUCHARD, MIKKO KOIVU)
10:46</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at VANCOUVER

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 2
VANCOUVER 5 4:56 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at VANCOUVER

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 2
VANCOUVER 6
3RD PRD: VAN - (PP) LUC BOURDON 1 (BYRON RITCHIE) 17:57</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at VANCOUVER

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MINNESOTA 1 0 1 2
VANCOUVER 4 1 1 6 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: VAN - TAYLOR PYATT 5 (BRAD ISBISTER, ALEXANDER EDLER) 2:46
VAN - (PP) MARKUS NASLUND 5 (HENRIK SEDIN, BRENDAN MORRISON)
9:16
VAN - MATTIAS OHLUND 3 (ALEXANDRE BURROWS, BRENDAN MORRISON)
11:59
VAN - (PP) DANIEL SEDIN 8 (HENRIK SEDIN, MATTIAS OHLUND)
16:32
MIN - AARON VOROS 1 (KEITH CARNEY, PIERRE-MARC BOUCHARD)
16:45
2ND PRD: VAN - TREVOR LINDEN 1 (UNASSISTED) 2:54
3RD PRD: MIN - (PP) BRENT BURNS 4 (PIERRE-MARC BOUCHARD, MIKKO KOIVU)
10:46
VAN - (PP) LUC BOURDON 1 (BYRON RITCHIE) 17:57</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at VANCOUVER

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MINNESOTA 1 0 1 2
VANCOUVER 4 1 1 6 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: VAN - TAYLOR PYATT 5 (BRAD ISBISTER, ALEXANDER EDLER) 2:46
VAN - (PP) MARKUS NASLUND 5 (HENRIK SEDIN, BRENDAN MORRISON)
9:16
VAN - MATTIAS OHLUND 3 (ALEXANDRE BURROWS, BRENDAN MORRISON)
11:59
VAN - (PP) DANIEL SEDIN 8 (HENRIK SEDIN, MATTIAS OHLUND)
16:32
MIN - AARON VOROS 1 (KEITH CARNEY, PIERRE-MARC BOUCHARD)
16:45
2ND PRD: VAN - TREVOR LINDEN 1 (UNASSISTED) 2:54
3RD PRD: MIN - (PP) BRENT BURNS 4 (PIERRE-MARC BOUCHARD, MIKKO KOIVU)
10:46
VAN - (PP) LUC BOURDON 1 (BYRON RITCHIE) 17:57

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: MIN - 1 OF 3, VAN - 3 OF 10.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MIN 8 5 9 22
VAN 14 4 13 31

GOALIES: MIN - JOSH HARDING, NIKLAS BACKSTROM
(11:59, 1ST)
VAN - ROBERTO LUONGO

OFFICIALS: REF - DAN MAROUELLI, WES MCCAULEY
LIN - LONNIE CAMERON, MIKE CVIK

ATT: 18,630</div>

 

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) -- The Vancouver Canucksdid not look like a team struggling on offense Friday.

Taylor Pyatt, Markus Naslund and defenseman Mattias Ohlund eachscored in the first 12 minutes to propel the Canucks to a 6-2victory over the Minnesota Wild in a matchup of NortwestDivision rivals.


Brendan Morrison and Henrik Sedin had two assists apiece forVancouver, which has not lost in regulation in its last fivecontests (4-0-1).


After getting shut out, 1-0, at home in a shootout by theEdmonton Oilers on Wednesday, the Canucks quickly opened thescoring in this one when Pyatt tallied just under three minutesinto the game. Brad Isbister managed to wrestle away the puckfrom a Wild defenseman in the right corner and centered it to awide-open Pyatt, who beat goaltender Josh Harding to the gloveside at 2:46 for his fifth goal of the season.


Vancouver doubled its lead at 9:16 with Minnesota's Pierre-MarcBouchard in the penalty box for hooking. Naslund deposited arebound past Harding after the netminder stopped Sedin's shotfrom the point.


Minnesota appeared to halve the deficit when enforcer DerekBoogaard knocked a puck out of mid-air and past goalie RobertoLuongo on a centering pass by defenseman Brent Burns thatbounced high. The goal, however, immediately was waved off byofficials for a high stick, and the decision stood after a briefvideo review.


That miscue proved for the Wild, as the Canucks continued theironslaught, with Ohlund scoring at 11:59 and chasing Harding.

Harding made just seven saves in just under 12 minutes. He wasreplaced by Niklas Backstrom, who received a rude welcome to thegame as Daniel Sedin netted Vancouver's fourth goal of theperiod on a power play with 3:28 left in the first.

The Wild got one back as rookie Aaron Voros scored his firstcareer goal just 13 seconds later. Former Canucks defensemanKeith Carney fired a seemingly harmless shot from just insidethe left faceoff circle that Voros - a Vancouver native -deflected past Luongo.


Any thought of the Wild using that goal as momentum quickly wassquashed early in the second period. Trevor Linden picked off apoor clearing attempt by Backstrom along the right wing boardsand fired a shot into the top left corner of the open net as theFinn was unable to get back into his crease in time.

The third period was highlighted by a flurry of infractions.The clubs combined for 49 penalty minutes in the final session,and Boogaard and Ohlund both received game misconducts in thefinal five minutes.


Blue-liner Luc Bourdon, who was the 10th overall pick in the2005 draft, scored his first career goal with 2:03 remaining,giving Vancouver a 6-2 advantage and its highest scoring outputof the season.


Luongo, coming off his first shutout of the season in a losingeffort, made 20 saves.


The Canucks improved to 7-0-1 against division opponents.

Minnesota, which had not lost to Vancouver in regulation in itsprevious five meetings, has now dropped eight of its last 11contests overall.

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at VANCOUVER

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Minnesota 1 0 1 --2
Vancouver 4 1 1 --6
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Vancouver, Taylor Pyatt 5 (Brad Isbister,
Alexander Edler), 2:46. 2, Vancouver, Markus Naslund 5 (power play)
(Henrik Sedin, Brendan Morrison), 9:16. 3, Vancouver, Mattias Ohlund 3
(Alexandre Burrows, Brendan Morrison), 11:59. 4, Vancouver, Daniel
Sedin 8 (power play) (Henrik Sedin, Mattias Ohlund), 16:32. 5,
Minnesota, Aaron Voros 1 (Keith Carney, Pierre-Marc Bouchard), 16:45.
Penalties: P Bouchard, Min (hooking), 8:13; B Radivojevic, Min (cross
checking), 16:15.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 6, Vancouver, Trevor Linden 1 (Unassisted),
2:54. Penalties: K Foster, Min (hooking), 3:06; M Ohlund, Van
(slashing), 12:11; M Gaborik, Min (elbowing), 19:40.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 7, Minnesota, Brent Burns 4 (power play)
(Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Mikko Koivu), 10:46. 8, Vancouver, Luc Bourdon
1 (power play) (Byron Ritchie), 17:57. Penalties: K Foster, Min
(tripping), 2:38; P Bouchard, Min (roughing), 8:32; A Voros, Min
(goalie interference), 8:32; A Burrows, Van (roughing), 8:32; M
Ohlund, Van (hooking), 9:22; D Boogaard, Min (double minor roughing,
misconduct), 15:04; W Mitchell, Van (roughing), 15:04; B Radivojevic,
Min (double minor hooking, unsportsmanlike cond), 15:45; M Koivu, Min
(elbowing), 16:06; M Ohlund, Van ( misconduct), 16:06.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Minnesota 8 5 9 --22
Vancouver 14 4 13 --31
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Minnesota - 1 of 3, Vancouver - 3 of 10.
Goalies : Minnesota, Josh Harding (11 shots, 8 saves; record: 2-4-1),
Niklas Backstrom (11:59 of 1st period, 20, 17). Vancouver, Roberto
Luongo (22 shots, 20 saves; record: 8-8-1). A: 18,630. Referees: Dan
Marouelli, Wes Mccauley. Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron, Mike Cvik.</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at VANCOUVER

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
MINNESOTA 1 0 1 --2
VANCOUVER 4 1 1 --6
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Vancouver, Taylor Pyatt 5 (Brad Isbister,
Alexander Edler), 2:46. 2, Vancouver, Markus Naslund 5 (power play)
(Henrik Sedin, Brendan Morrison), 9:16. 3, Vancouver, Mattias Ohlund 3
(Alexandre Burrows, Brendan Morrison), 11:59. 4, Vancouver, Daniel
Sedin 8 (power play) (Henrik Sedin, Mattias Ohlund), 16:32. 5,
Minnesota, Aaron Voros 1 (Keith Carney, Pierre-Marc Bouchard), 16:45.
Penalties: P Bouchard, Min (hooking), 8:13; B Radivojevic, Min (cross
checking), 16:15.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 6, Vancouver, Trevor Linden 1 (Unassisted),
2:54. Penalties: K Foster, Min (hooking), 3:06; M Ohlund, Van
(slashing), 12:11; M Gaborik, Min (elbowing), 19:40.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 7, Minnesota, Brent Burns 4 (power play)
(Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Mikko Koivu), 10:46. 8, Vancouver, Luc Bourdon
1 (power play) (Byron Ritchie), 17:57. Penalties: K Foster, Min
(tripping), 2:38; P Bouchard, Min (roughing), 8:32; A Voros, Min
(goalie interference), 8:32; A Burrows, Van (roughing), 8:32; M
Ohlund, Van (hooking), 9:22; D Boogaard, Min (double minor roughing,
misconduct), 15:04; W Mitchell, Van (roughing), 15:04; B Radivojevic,
Min (double minor hooking, unsportsmanlike cond), 15:45; M Koivu, Min
(elbowing), 16:06; M Ohlund, Van ( misconduct), 16:06.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
MINNESOTA 8 5 9 --22
VANCOUVER 14 4 13 --31
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: MIN - 1 of 3, VAN - 3 of 10. Goalies :
Minnesota, Josh Harding (11 shots, 8 saves; record: 2-4-1), Niklas
Backstrom (11:59 of 1st period, 20, 17). Vancouver, Roberto Luongo (22
shots, 20 saves; record: 8-8-1). A: 18,630. Referees: Dan Marouelli,
Wes Mccauley. Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron, Mike Cvik.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

MINNESOTA VANCOUVER
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
M Gaborik 0 0 -1 2 A Burrows 0 1 +1 1
B Rolston 0 0 even 2 B Ritchie 0 1 even 1
D Moore 0 0 even 1 T Linden 1 0 even 1
S Veilleux 0 0 -1 1 R Kesler 0 0 +1 3
M Parrish 0 0 even 0 M Naslund 1 0 even 4
D Boogaard 0 0 even 0 M Ohlund 1 1 even 2
E Belanger 0 0 -2 0 J Cowan 0 0 even 1
K Foster 0 0 -2 0 D Sedin 1 0 even 2
K Carney 0 1 -1 0 A Edler 0 1 +1 0
M Skoula 0 0 even 0 M Cooke 0 0 +1 0
A Voros 1 0 -1 2 B Isbister 0 1 +1 3
K Johnsson 0 0 even 4 H Sedin 0 2 even 5
N Schultz 0 0 -1 1 A Miller 0 0 +1 0
J Sheppard 0 0 -1 0 M Weaver 0 0 even 0
B Burns 1 0 even 3 B Morrison 0 2 +1 1
M Koivu 0 1 even 2 W Mitchell 0 0 +1 1
B Radivojevic 0 0 -1 1 T Pyatt 1 0 +1 3
P Bouchard 0 2 +1 3 L Bourdon 1 0 +1 3
P Nummelin HEALTHY J Hansen HEALTHY
M Foy HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at VANCOUVER

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
MINNESOTA 2
VANCOUVER 6</div>

 

By Daniel Fung
PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer


VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) -- The Vancouver Canucks didnot look like a team struggling on offense Friday.

Taylor Pyatt, Markus Naslund and defenseman Mattias Ohlund eachscored in the first 12 minutes to propel the Canucks to a 6-2victory over the Minnesota Wild in a matchup of NortwestDivision rivals.


Brendan Morrison and Henrik Sedin had two assists apiece forVancouver, which has not lost in regulation in its last fivecontests (4-0-1).


"I was pleased with the way we played," Canucks coach AlainVigneault said. "We all know Minnesota's identity, but I'vebeen very happy with the way we've been playing lately and happywith the way we've been playing at home.


"Tonight, finally, we got rewarded offensively for all our hardwork, so hopefully it's a step in the right direction."

After getting shut out, 1-0, at home in a shootout by theEdmonton Oilers on Wednesday, the Canucks quickly opened thescoring in this one when Pyatt tallied just under three minutesinto the game. Brad Isbister managed to wrestle away the puckfrom a Wild defenseman in the right corner and centered it to awide-open Pyatt, who beat goaltender Josh Harding to the gloveside at 2:46 for his fifth goal of the season.


Vancouver doubled its lead at 9:16 with Minnesota's Pierre-MarcBouchard in the penalty box for hooking. Naslund deposited arebound past Harding after the netminder stopped Sedin's shotfrom the point.


"It's easier to play when you've got the lead and they have toplay a different game to play that's tough to penetrate,"Naslund said. "Now they have to score a little bit, and theyopen up a little bit that way."


Minnesota appeared to halve the deficit when enforcer DerekBoogaard knocked a puck out of mid-air and past goalie RobertoLuongo on a centering pass by defenseman Brent Burns thatbounced high. The goal, however, immediately was waved off byofficials for a high stick, and the decision stood after a briefvideo review.


That miscue proved costly for the Wild, as the Canucks continuedtheir onslaught, with Ohlund scoring at 11:59 and chasingHarding.


Harding made just seven saves in just under 12 minutes. He wasreplaced by Niklas Backstrom, who received a rude welcome to thegame as Daniel Sedin netted Vancouver's fourth goal of theperiod on a power play with 3:28 left in the first.

"Of course it's tough when the team is down a couple of goals inthe first period," said Backstrom, who started Thursday's gamein Edmonton only to be pulled in favor of Harding. "But on thatend, there was still a lot of time left, so you can't be toocaught in the moment. You have to work on believing in yourselfand believing in your team that you can come back."

The Wild got one back as rookie Aaron Voros scored his firstcareer goal just 13 seconds later. Former Canucks defensemanKeith Carney fired a seemingly harmless shot from just insidethe left faceoff circle that Voros - a Vancouver native -deflected past Luongo.


Any thought of the Wild using that goal as momentum was quicklysquashed early in the second period. Trevor Linden picked off apoor clearing attempt by Backstrom along the right wing boardsand fired a shot into the top left corner of the open net as theFinn was unable to get back into his crease in time.

"We stuck to our game and managed to play pretty sound hockeytonight," Linden said. "It's nice to score some goals andcertainly win at home."


The third period was highlighted by a flurry of infractions. Theclubs combined for 49 penalty minutes in the final session, andBoogaard and Ohlund both received game misconducts in the finalfive minutes.


"In my mind, there were three incidents in that game - threeelbows to the head, two to Ryan Kesler, Gaborik had one. That'sexactly what the league is supposed to look at," Vigneaultsaid. "There was another one on Kes behind the net, I don'tremember the player from Minnesota, and then there was Koivu on(Ohlund).


"Obviously, you take an elbow to the face, there's going to besome frustration there. (Ohlund) probably didn't exert hisreaction the right way."


Blue-liner Luc Bourdon, who was the 10th overall pick in the2005 draft, scored his first career goal with 2:03 remaining,giving Vancouver a 6-2 advantage and its highest scoring outputof the season.


"It was great getting the first one out of the way," Bourdonsaid. "It's always huge, you know, anywhere in the league, andit's always a good memory if it's your first goal."

Luongo, coming off his first shutout of the season in a losingeffort, made 20 saves.


The Canucks improved to 7-0-1 against division opponents.

"We have to make sure to keep this going," Luongo said. "Wehave a few more big games against divisional teams in thisstretch, so we need to keep focused and keep playing wellagainst them."


Minnesota, which had not lost to Vancouver in regulation in itsprevious five meetings, has now dropped eight of its last 11contests overall.


"At the start of the season, we had three scoring lines and thenafter that, when we got the injuries, we dropped to one scoringline, so it was a little harder to win," Wild coach JacquesLemaire said. "Although some games we really played well anddidn't win, but we've just got to get it together and go back towork."

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at VANCOUVER

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Minnesota 1 0 1 --2
Vancouver 4 1 1 --6
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Vancouver, Taylor Pyatt 5 (Brad Isbister,
Alexander Edler), 2:46. 2, Vancouver, Markus Naslund 5 (power play)
(Henrik Sedin, Brendan Morrison), 9:16. 3, Vancouver, Mattias Ohlund 3
(Alexandre Burrows, Brendan Morrison), 11:59. 4, Vancouver, Daniel
Sedin 8 (power play) (Henrik Sedin, Mattias Ohlund), 16:32. 5,
Minnesota, Aaron Voros 1 (Keith Carney, Pierre-Marc Bouchard), 16:45.
Penalties: P Bouchard, Min (hooking), 8:13; B Radivojevic, Min (cross
checking), 16:15.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 6, Vancouver, Trevor Linden 1 (Unassisted),
2:54. Penalties: K Foster, Min (hooking), 3:06; M Ohlund, Van
(slashing), 12:11; M Gaborik, Min (elbowing), 19:40.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 7, Minnesota, Brent Burns 4 (power play)
(Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Mikko Koivu), 10:46. 8, Vancouver, Luc Bourdon
1 (power play) (Byron Ritchie), 17:57. Penalties: K Foster, Min
(tripping), 2:38; P Bouchard, Min (roughing), 8:32; A Voros, Min
(goalie interference), 8:32; A Burrows, Van (roughing), 8:32; M
Ohlund, Van (hooking), 9:22; D Boogaard, Min (double minor roughing,
misconduct), 15:04; W Mitchell, Van (roughing), 15:04; B Radivojevic,
Min (double minor hooking, unsportsmanlike cond), 15:45; M Koivu, Min
(elbowing), 16:06; M Ohlund, Van ( misconduct), 16:06.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Minnesota 8 5 9 --22
Vancouver 14 4 13 --31
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Minnesota - 1 of 3, Vancouver - 3 of 10.
Goalies : Minnesota, Josh Harding (11 shots, 8 saves; record: 2-4-1),
Niklas Backstrom (11:59 of 1st period, 20, 17). Vancouver, Roberto
Luongo (22 shots, 20 saves; record: 8-8-1). A: 18,630. Referees: Dan
Marouelli, Wes Mccauley. Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron, Mike Cvik.</div>