Vincent Lecavalier has shootout winner as Flyers edge Canucks 4-3 | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Vincent Lecavalier has shootout winner as Flyers edge Canucks 4-3

Vancouver Canucks left wing David Booth (7) and Philadelphia Flyers centre Zac Rinaldo (36) fight for control of the puck during the third period of NHL action in Vancouver, B.C. Monday, Dec. 30, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

VANCOUVER - Vincent Lecavalier scored the shootout winner as the Philadelphia Flyers came back to beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 in NHL action Monday night.

The Flyers prevailed after trailing 2-1 in the second period and 3-2 late in the third.

Lecavalier scored on a deke on Philadelphia's first attempt and goaltender Steve Mason stopped all three Vancouver shooters as the Flyers (19-16-4) posted their third straight win and sixth in eight games.

The Canucks (23-11-7) suffered only their third loss in the past eight games. But more significantly, Vancouver missed a chance to move into a tie for fifth place in the Western Conference after the Kings lost earlier Monday to Chicago.

The Flyers have not lost in Vancouver in nearly 14 years, with their last setback coming Dec. 31, 1989.

Tom Sestito, Jannik Hansen and Daniel Sedin had Vancouver's goals in regulation time.

Mark Streit, Claude Girioux and Brayden Schen also scored for the Flyers. Giroux also had an assist and further bolstered his chances of playing for Canada's Olympic team as he extended his point streak to nine games.

Brayden Schenn forced overtime and the shootout as he scored in the final minute of the third period after Daniel Sedin had put the Canucks ahead with less than three minutes remaining.

Philadelphia goaltender Mason recorded 42 saves.

Vancouver counterpart Eddie Lack, making his second consecutive start and third appearance in place of injured No. 1 netminder Roberto Luongo, finished with 25 saves.

Vancouver could not score on its four power plays while Philadelphia was blanked on its three.

The Flyers led 1-0 after the first period and the clubs were tied 2-2 following the second.

Streit opened the scoring at 15:24 of the first period, putting in a backhand shot as the puck came to him after Canucks defenceman Dan Hamhuis denied Michael Raffl on a wraparound attempt. The goal capped an opening 20 minutes in which both teams enjoyed decent chances.

Lack was strong early as he stopped Jakub Voracek during a Philly power play in the first two minutes and then made difficult glove saves on Sean Couturier and Braydon Coburn with the clubs playing four on four.

Then Mason stood out as he sprawled to stop Chris Higgins after the Canuck intercepted a pass right in front of the net. Later, Mason made difficult saves on Yannick Weber and Ryan Kesler as the Canucks dominated for the duration of the period but could not turn the red light on.

Vancouver's scoring struggles continued early in the second period as David Booth hit the post on a wrap-around attempt in the first minute. But an unlikely marksman, Sestito, a fourth-liner wanted mostly for his toughness, forged a 1-1 tie at 4:24 as he put in a Hamhuis rebound.

With just under five minutes left in the second, Lack took a Wayne Simmonds shot to the mask. Despite losing his headgear on the play, Lack came up smiling and showed no ill effects.

Less than a minute later, Hansen put the Canucks ahead 2-1 as he completed a nifty give-and-go with Daniel Sedin and tapped the puck into an open net. Hansen's goal rewarded the Canucks after they held a decisive edge in shots.

But Giroux pulled the Flyers even about two minutes later as took a lead pass from Raffl, fought his way up the middle through Hamhuis and Chris Tanev, and flicked the puck behind Lack from in close.

Early in the third period, Mason denied Daniel Sedin on a breakaway. With just under six minutes gone, the Flyers goaltender robbed David Booth on a one-timer on a two-on-one with Zack Kassian.

Philadelphia coach Craig Berube called a timeout with 3:45 left in the third period to help get his team going. But moments later Daniel Sedin scored to give the Canucks a 3-2 lead.

Sedin's long wrist shot from near the blue-line bounced off Flyer goaltender Steve Mason's blocker and back into the net off Philadelphia defenceman Luke Schenn.

However, Brayden Schenn made up for his older brother's error as he put in Scott Hartnell's goalmouth pass with 46.8 seconds left in regulation time.

In overtime, Mason stopped Kesler on two excellent chances in the final minute.

Notes: Luongo worked out with Canucks goaltending coach Roland Melanson during a morning skate that involved a few players, including injured defenceman Alex Edler (undisclosed). … Simmonds was denied a chance to become the first Flyer to score multiple goals in four consecutive games in the 46-season history of the Philadelphia franchise. Reggie Leach (1976 and 1981) and Ross Lonsberry (1976) are the only other Flyers to record two or more goals in three straight games. … Defenceman Frank Corrado played his first game for Vancouver this season after being called up from Utica of the AHL earlier in the day. He replaced Andrew Alberts, who was injured Sunday on a high hit from Brian McGrattan in Calgary. McGrattan was assessed an elbowing major and game misconduct for the infraction. Corrado played for the Canucks late in the regular season and playoffs last season after playing his final junior campaign in the OHL. … Canucks captain Henrik Sedin played in his 670th consecutive NHL game.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2013
The Canadian Press

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