Canucks roll past Coyotes with 3-goal second period

The 22-year-old has no fantasy value in standard leagues. But being average after being bad hasn’t helped in the standings. He registered one goal, one assist, two shots on goal, three shot attempts and three blocked shots. It’s about a two-hour flight to Dallas, whether the weather is also mostly sunny with temperatures in the low 20s, and where the Canucks will be playing a team on Friday that, like the Coyotes, they beat in overtime during their last homestand. So, it seems that it would tough enough for both teams to reach to the top unless they win the rest matches.

“It’s not much that needs to change”, said Henrik Sedin. “We usually shoot the puck, get it back, shoot it again”. This was a good chance for us.

“I’ve liked that line for three or four games”, Canucks coach Willie Desjardins said. “We did some things right and I think you have to look at this game that way”.

After that, Dallas’ Antti Niemi shut down Vancouver and finished with 30 saves, 14 in the third period.

The Vancouver Canucks and Dallas Stars used to be Pacific Division bunkmates. Horvat found left winger Sven Baertschi all alone at the far post for an easy tap-in and a 1-0 lead at 3:08 of the first period. “Ben has been a nice surprise since he got here”. He had eight of his shots blocked, which normally would only happen to a five-foot centre in basketball. It was a happy ending for the rookie, his first one in the history books. “Other times if feels like we’re not shooting the puck, not getting motion toward the net, not getting second and third opportunities. We have a chance Friday to turn this around”. Last year, Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn had combined for 59 points in the first 21 games.

“That’s what we thought, too”, Sedin said. Jacob Markstrom has given up 29 goals on 281 shots faced and Ryan Miller has allowed 26 goals on 258 shots.

Playing in his 17th game for Dallas, Lindell at first was credited with the goal at 9:32 of the second period that tied it 1.

Hutton, 23, has registered four points (2-2-4) in 20 games with Vancouver this season where he now leads defensemen in goals and shares the blueline lead in points. On Vancouver’s first goal, he was not ready for the play directly in front of him. It was nice to get a lead. “Most teams have one or two injuries, we still have a couple”. We had that little lapse in the second period and it hurt us. “We had to apply going into the third”.

No, the Canucks were right there were a struggling Stars’ team.

The Stars improved to 5-2-2 over their past nine games and are now 9-8-5 on the season. They’ve put their scoring troubles behind them for now, having scored 12 goals in those four games, not to mention the five they earned against the Stars. Assists to Granlund and Luca Sbisa at 3:18.