Tanev's OT goal lifts Canucks past Flames
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Defenseman Chris Tanev scored 34 seconds into overtime as the Vancouver Canucks improved their playoff hopes with a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Saturday night.
Tanev scored his first goal of the season on a 2-on-1 breakaway. He took a pass from Daniel Sedin and beat Calgary goaltender Brian Elliott on the short side.
Calgary's Mark Giordano forced overtime when he tied the game with six seconds left in the third period.
Alex Edler scored the Canucks' other goal on a strange play in the first period.
The Canucks (26-27-6) moved to four points behind Calgary (29-26-4) in the race for the final wild card playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Vancouver goaltender Ryan Miller made 35 saves. Calgary outshot Vancouver 18-2 in the third period.
Elliott stopped 17 shots for the Flames.
Giordano tied the game when he took a pass from Matthew Tkachuk and beat Miller with a shot from along the boards.
The game was 7:16 old before Edler managed Vancouver's first shot on net but it was good enough to put the Canucks ahead 1-0. Edler's goal came on a harmless looking play. The Vancouver defenseman barely stepped across the center line when he shot at the Flames' net. The puck appeared to dip and fluttered under Elliott's glove. It was Edler's third goal of the season and second in 40 games.
Vancouver looked to have taken a 2-0 lead when Bo Horvat scored off a scramble with 1:38 left in the first period. The goal was disallowed because the referee blew the play dead.
One of Miller's best saves came during the second period. Calgary's Micheal Ferland and Troy Brouwer had a 2-on-1 breakaway, and Miller managed to get a skate on Brouwer's shot. Later, defenseman Matt Bartkowski rang a shot off the post behind Miller.
NOTES: LW Brendan Gaunce returned to the Canucks' lineup after being a healthy scratch in Thursday's 4-2 loss to St. Louis. ... RW Jayson Megna started the game on the top power-play unit, replacing C Brandon Sutter, who is playing with a wrist injury. ... Prior to the game, a statue of Pat Quinn, a former Canucks coach and general manager, was unveiled outside Rogers Arena. ... D Philip Larsen, D Alex Biega and C Reid Boucher were healthy scratches for Vancouver. ... D Matt Bartkowski, who played 80 games with Vancouver last year, dressed for his first game with the Flames since signing with Calgary on Thursday. ... C Alex Chiasson was a healthy scratch after receiving a major and game misconduct in Wednesday's victory over Philadelphia. ... C Freddie Hamilton, a healthy scratch for the last eight games, replaced Chiasson. ... RW Garnet Hathaway and D Jryki Jokipakka were healthy scratches. .... The Flames continue their five-game road trip Tuesday in Nashville, while the Canucks host Philadelphia on Sunday.