Canucks survive pesky Blues in OT

The Vancouver Canucks maintained their precarious lead in the Northwest division on Thursday night with a 3-2 overtime win over the St. Louis Blues at General Motors Place.

Daniel Sedin gave the Canucks the victory after scoring the game winner on the power play just 1:09 into overtime.

St. Louis Blues goalie Curtis Sanford, left, makes a save as Canucks winger Taylor Pyatt (9) looks for a rebound Thursday night at General Motors Place in Vancouver. St. Louis Blues goalie Curtis Sanford, left, makes a save as Canucks winger Taylor Pyatt (9) looks for a rebound Thursday night at General Motors Place in Vancouver.
(Sam Leung/Canadian Press)

Both Daniel and his twin brother Henrik led Vancouver with a goal and an assist.

With Minnesota beating Edmonton 2-1 on Thursday night, the Canucks' victory put them at 89 points, one ahead of the Wild and six in front of the Calgary Flames.

The Canucks were given every opportunity to win this game in the first period, but didn't take advantage until the waning moments of regulation time.

With the game tied 2-2, St. Louis defenceman Eric Brewer took a crucial four-minute roughing penalty at 19:10 of the third.
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While Vancouver failed to score in the final 50 seconds of the period, the team took a 4-on-3 power play into the overtime frame.

It didn't take long for the Canucks to make Brewer pay for his mistake as Daniel Sedin took a cross-ice feed from Henrik and tapped in the puck behind Blues goaltender Curtis Sanford.

Despite the loss, Sanford play a stellar game for the Blues, making 34 saves including 12 in the third period and overtime.

Sanford, who registered his last shutout against the Canucks more than a year ago, stopped Bryan Smolinski three times, once on a 2-on-1 break and twice with his right pad. He also robbed Daniel Sedin on an attempt to convert a rebound.

Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo didn't face as many pucks as his counterpart, but had a solid performance in stopping 20 St. Louis shots.

After both teams skated to a scoreless first period, the Canucks finally opened a 1-0 lead 1:30 into the second.

Henrik Sedin raced into the St. Louis zone and fired a wrist shot that went over the right glove of Sanford.

The Canucks then appeared to get a little breathing room when Trevor Linden scored on a 4-on-2 break at 9:35 of the third period. Brendan Morrison slid a pass to Linden, who deked Sanford with a nifty backhand.

It was Linden's first goal in his last 10 games.

The Blues wouldn't go away, however, as they began their rally with only seven minutes remaining in the game. With the Canucks pinned inside their own end, Jamal Mayers ripped a low shot between the legs of Luongo.

St. Louis got the equalizer at 16:35 after taking advantage of a Vancouver turnover.

Petr Cajanek alertly trailed the play, picked up the loose up and lifted a shot over Luongo.

The win gave the Canucks their third victory of the season against the Blues.