Canucks 3, Thrashers 1
Mason Raymond and Alexandre Bolduc scored second-period goals as the Vancouver Canucks equaled a franchise record for wins in a season with a 3-1 triumph over the host Atlanta Thrashers on Friday night.
Roberto Luongo stopped 30 shots to pace the Canucks (49-17-9), who tied their single-season wins mark set in 2006-07 and equaled last season. The victory also gives Vancouver a franchise-best 107 points on the season while moving the club nine points clear of Philadelphia in the race for the best record in the NHL.
Raymond gave the Canucks the lead five minutes into the second period, wristing a long shot past Thrashers netminder Chris Mason for his 13th goal of the season. Bolduc added his second of the campaign seven minutes later as Vancouver enjoyed a two-goal bulge after 40 minutes.
Bryan Little's unassisted marker with 5:30 remaining ended Luongo's shutout bid, but the veteran netminder held things down from there to earn his 35th win of the season. Alex Burrows iced things with an empty-netter in the final minute.
The defeat leaves the Thrashers (31-31-12) seven points back of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with just eight games remaining.