Canucks 3, Blackhawks 2 (SO)
CHICAGO -- It took eight tries in the shootout, but the Vancouver Canucks finally came out on top, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 Friday night at the United Center.
Center Ryan Kessler scored the deciding tally to help the Canucks break a two-game losing streak while also snapping Chicago's two-game winning streak.
Center Mike Santorelli scored the first goal of the shootout for the Canucks (21-11-6), followed by misses by left winger Daniel Sedin, center Henrik Sedin, right winger Zack Kassian, defenseman Yannick Weber, left winger David Booth and center Zac Dalpe before Kesler's game-winner.
Chicago (25-7-6) managed just one goal in the shootout, coming from forward Patrick Sharp. Missing for the Blackhawks were right winger Patrick Kane, center Jonathan Toews, right winger Marian Hossa, left winger Brandon Saad, right winger Ben Smith, right winger Kris Versteeg and center Michal Handzus.
The win tied the season series between the two teams at 1, with one more game remaining later this season.
In a surprise move, first-year Canucks coach John Tortorella started rookie goaltender Eddie Lack rather than Roberto Luongo, who has a 15-10-3 all-time record vs. Chicago. Lack had a 4-2 record in nine games coming into his first-ever meeting with the Blackhawks.
Chicago grabbed the lead first at 7:49 of the first period on Versteeg's tip-in goal (seventh of season).
Chicago made it 2-0 at 4:57 of the second period on Kane's slap shot from inside the left circle for his team-leading 21st goal of the season.
After Chicago goalie Antti Raanta stopped the Canucks' first 12 shots, he wasn't as lucky on the 13th attempt Kassian nailed his seventh goal of the season on a 25-foot slap shot.
Raanta got bottled up on one side of his net at 10:48 of the third period and Vancouver took advantage of his being out of position. Defenseman Kevin Bieksa flicked the puck through the crease to Daniel Sedin, who easily slid it past Raanta for his 12th goal of the season, tying the game at 2.
The game was fairly even in terms of shots on goal. Vancouver finished with 24, while Chicago had 26.
Even with the loss, Chicago, which came into the game leading the NHL in wins and points, still holds a commanding all-time series lead over Vancouver at 81-65-27-8.
NOTES: Attendance was 21,966, the second-largest home crowd for the Blackhawks this season. ... With Tuesday's win at Nashville, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville moved into fourth-place on the all-time coaching wins list with his 685th triumph as a head coach in the NHL. He moved past Pat Quinn, who had 684 wins. Quenneville also leads all active coaches in the NHL with 1,249 games coached, including Friday's contest. ... Chicago continues its homestand with games Monday vs. the New Jersey Devils and Dec. 27 vs. Colorado. After a Dec. 28 game at St. Louis, the Blackhawks return home for games against the Los Angeles Kings (Dec. 30) and New York Islanders (Jan. 2). ... Vancouver came into the game with the NHL's best penalty killing unit (89.8 percent). ... Friday marked the end of a three-game roadtrip for the Canucks, who return home to play Winnipeg on Sunday before enjoying a week off before hitting the road again at Calgary on Dec. 29.
