Recap: Vancouver vs. Minnesota
Sports Network | November 09, 2008
Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - Roberto Luongo logged his third consecutive shutout as the Vancouver Canucks blanked the Minnesota Wild, 2-0, at General Motors Place.
Luongo stopped all 29 of Minnesota's shots and has held opponents scoreless for 201 minutes and eight seconds dating back to the second period of a 3-2 loss to Detroit last Sunday. The star netminder went on to log shutouts against Nashville and Phoenix and will go for his own franchise record Wednesday at home against Colorado.
Sami Salo and Daniel Sedin scored the goals for Vancouver, which has streaked to three straight wins behind Luongo. Henrik Sedin and Kevin Bieksa assisted on both scores.
The Canucks are now 3-1 in the midst of a six-game homestand -- their longest residency of the season.
Niklas Backstrom did well in keeping Minnesota in the game, turning away 27- of-29 Vancouver shots in defeat. The Wild have now dropped four of their last six games since starting the season with a 5-0-1 mark.
Salo's goal came on the power-play after Colton Gillies was boxed for boarding with close to six minutes left in the first. Henrik sent the puck back to the right point, where Bieksa slid the disc over to Salo at the opposite point and his slapper sailed clear of Backstrom.
A scoreless second frame saw each goaltender turn away 12 shots with Vancouver being stifled on a pair of man-advantage opportunities and Minnesota failing to score on one.
Daniel's tally was the result of a cross-ice pass through the neutral zone from brother Henrik. He skated the puck up the left boards and forced Backstrom down with the threat of five-hole, then lifted a forehand flip into the net, stick side, with only 2:40 left in the game.
Despite the loss, the Wild have had success against the Canucks recently, winning five of the last seven encounters between the clubs. Minnesota has also come out on top in four of the last six meetings in Vancouver...The Canucks are 5-2-0 as the host team so far this season...Luongo now has five shutouts on the young season, giving him 43 for his career...Minnesota is now 5-3-0 on the road this year and completed a four-game road swing Saturday.
