Canucks' win streak reaches six
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Markus Granlund scored two goals and collected an assist as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Calgary Flames 4-2 on Friday night to extend their winning streak to six games.
Michael Chaput and Loui Eriksson also scored for Vancouver (20-18-3). The Canucks are (8-2-1) in their last 11 games and have gone from having the third-worst record in the league to sitting in the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Michael Frolik scored twice for Calgary (21-18-2), which outshot Vancouver 46-13. Mikael Backlund had two assists, giving him 11 points (6-5) in six games.
The Flames, who had a two-game win streak snapped, are (5-3-0) in their last eight games.
Vancouver goaltender Ryan Miller, who was starting for the fifth time in sixth games, made 44 saves. Flames goalie Brian Elliott, making his third consecutive start, stopped nine shots.
Granlund scored his second goal at 3:18 of the third period, tipping a point shot from Nikita Tryamkin into the net for his ninth goal of the season. Frolik made it 4-2 with 1:43 left in the third, scoring on a power play.
The Canucks were outshot 12-4 in the second period but scored late to take a 3-1 lead into the third.
The Flames were playing short-handed after being called for too many men on the ice. Granlund took a pass from Bo Horvat and fired a shot from the faceoff circle that beat Elliott on the far side at 19:38.
The Canucks used goals 2:28 apart in the first period to erase an early deficit.
The Flames took advantage of a turnover to score 78 seconds into the game.
Vancouver's Troy Stetcher fell in his own zone, giving Calgary the puck. Backlund got the puck behind the net, then passed to Tkachuk along the boards. He fed a cross-ice pass to Frolik who tapped it in behind Miller.
Chaput tied the score at 10:49 on a pretty give-and-go play with Jack Skille. Chaput passed to Skille, who faked a shot, then fed the puck back to Chaput. He put a shot under Elliott's blocker for his third NHL goal but first in 29 games with the Canucks.
Vancouver took the lead at 13:07 on a fluky goal by Eriksson. He took a shot that deflected off sprawling Flames defenseman Tyler Wotherspoon and over Elliott's shoulder.
The Flames thought Lance Bouma had scored short-handed at 8:48. The goal was disallowed when it was ruled Matt Stajan had interfered with Miller in the crease.
NOTES: RW Alex Burrows missed the games because of illness allowing RW Anton Rodin to draw into the Canucks' lineup. ... Vancouver lost 4-1 and had just 14 shots on goal the last time the teams met Dec. 23. ... G Ryan Miller allowed five goals in his previous four games. ... C Reid Boucher, acquired on waivers from New Jersey on Wednesday, skated with the Canucks on Friday but didn't dress. ... D Alex Biega was a healthy scratch. ... Vancouver plays six of its next nine games on the road. ... Calgary D Dougie Hamilton played in his 300th NHL game. ... D Jyrki Jokipakka was a healthy scratch for a second straight game and the third time in the last six. ... RW Garnet Hathaway also was a healthy scratch. ... It was just the sixth road game for Calgary since Nov. 29. ... The two teams play again Saturday night in Calgary.