Canucks 2, Jets 1
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Defenseman Chris Tanev's third-period goal gave the Vancouver Canucks a 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets in NHL action Sunday night.
Tanev broke a 1-1 deadlock at 10:23 of the third period as he scored on a shot from the high slot.
The Canucks (22-12-8) posted their ninth win in the past 11 games, while the Jets (16-17-5) lost for the fifth time in the past seven outings. It was Vancouver's sixth consecutive home triumph.
Goaltender Eddie Lack picked up the win in relief of injured starter Roberto Luongo, who left the game late in the first period. Lack recorded 15 saves on 16 shots for his second consecutive win. Winnipeg goaltender Ondrej Pavelec bore the loss while stopping 23 of 25 shots.
Center Brad Richardson also scored for the Canucks, while left winger Evander Kane replied for the Jets.
The Jets played only their second game in Vancouver since the franchise relocated to Winnipeg from Atlanta. The Canucks Jets last met March 8, 2012, with Vancouver prevailing 3-2.
Richardson opened the scoring on a power play midway through the first period with a mid-air deflection of a Dan Hamhuis point shot following a face-off. The goal came seconds after Pavelec robbed Vancouver center Ryan Kesler a re-direction.
Less than four minutes later, Pavel stymied Kesler again on a great scoring chance. As Kesler raced down left wing on a partial breakaway and let go of a hard wrist shot, Pavelec reached out and snared the puck in his catching glove.
Luongo left the game with an apparent groin injury with 3:30 remaining in the first period during a TV timeout. He was replaced by Lack, who backstopped the Canucks to a 3-2 shootout win in Chicago on Friday.
Luongo posted six saves on as many shots.
With just under four minutes gone in the second period, referee Ian Walsh suffered a back injury as he was inadvertently upended by fallen Canucks right winger Dale Weise along the end boards. Walsh stayed in the game but left soon after, leaving Kyle Reiman as the lone referee.
Reiman's assessment of an interference penalty on Daniel Sedin led to Winnipeg's first goal. On the ensuing power play, Kane one-timed a shot from the slot to create a 1-1 tie. The goal extended Kane's points streak to four games after he missed the previous six with an undisclosed injury.
NOTES: Canucks D Kevin Bieksa played in the 500th game of his NHL career game, which has been spent entirely with Vancouver. ... Jets RW Evander Kane, a Vancouver native, played a rare NHL game in his hometown. He spent his junior career with the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League. ... Lack's father and grandmother attended the game while visiting from their native Sweden. ... Winnipeg rookie center Mark Scheifele extended his points streak, the longest by a first-year NHLer this season, to six games as he assisted on Kane's goal. ... Jets C James Wright and Kane were teammates for three seasons with the Vancouver Giants. ... Canucks D Alex Edler missed his ninth consecutive game with an undisclosed injury. He will be out "weeks," according to coach John Tortorella.
