Vancouver Canucks end two-game skid with 3-2 win over Winnipeg Jets - NHL Update
Vancouver Canucks are back to winning ways after cooling off the free scoring Jets in a 3-2 win at the Rogers Arena on Thursday, March 8, 2012.
The Canucks maintained their challenge for the top spot in the Western Conference with two more points and are currently second trailing first placed St. Louis Blues by a single point.
Two third period goals from Alexander Edler and Samuel Pahlsson secured a close victory for Vancouver while goaltender Cory Schneider’s 30-saves during the game helped keep their lead intact.
Coach, Alain Vigneault, had nothing but praise for his forwards and praised them in his post match interview.
"He (Ryan Kesler) was skating. Chris (Higgins) and David (Booth) did a good job getting in the open.
"Chris is such a hard worker, he retrieves pucks, whether it be in our end or their end, and (they) seemed to complement each other very well."
The Jets were under the cosh for most of the game but still managed to give Vancouver a big fight, however, goaltender, Ondrej Pavelec, had little support from his defensemen and was peppered with 45 shots during the game.
The loss ended Winnipeg’s two game winning run in which they had scored a total of 10 goals as they could not maintain the same performance levels in this game.
Coach, Claude Noel, was disappointed with the loss and said that energy levels were down in his players which led to the defeat.
"We were lacking our good, solid play we've had in the past. Our will was there, I didn't think our energy was good in the first, and other than that we didn't play to the level we were playing at before and that was the difference.
"You can't play a B-game against Vancouver; they are too good, too skilled."
Both teams ended the first period scoreless.
Vancouver were unlucky not to take advantage after outshooting the Jets 20-11 but Pavelec stood strong to deny last season’s Stanley Cup finalists.
Their efforts though were rewarded early in the second period as Ryan Kesler scored past Pavelec to make it 1-0.
The Jets did not give up and tried to find a breakthrough to get back on level terms.
Kyle Wellwood did just that at 15:22 as his wonderful finish beat the Canucks goaltender to make it 1-1.
Winnipeg took the lead early in the third as Blake Wheeler scored just three minutes into the final period to put the Jets up by 2-1.
However, Vancouver were egged on by a capacity crowd at the Rogers Arena and struck back with Edler and Pahlsson beating Pavelec for a 3-2 victory.
The Jets will now look to bounce back from the defeat when they face Calgary Flames on Friday while the Canucks face Montreal Canadiens at home ice on Saturday.
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