Canucks 4, Senators 1
Ryan Kesler scored twice and Roberto Luongo turned aside 24 shots as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the host Ottawa Senators for the eighth time in nine meetings, cruising to a 4-1 win Saturday night.
With Vancouver already ahead 2-0, Kesler capped his first multi-goal game of the season on a power play near the midway point of the second period. The veteran power forward converted a Henrik Sedin feed moments after he was hit hard by Ottawa's Nick Foligno, giving him five goals and nine assists over his last 10 games.
Alex Edler and Dale Weise had the other goals for the Canucks, while Colin Greening countered for the Senators.
The Canucks' power play needed just four seconds to strike, opening the scoring 1:10 into the game. After Vancouver won the offensive zone faceoff, Edler's shot from the point eluded Ottawa netminder Craig Anderson over his left shoulder.
Kesler doubled the lead at 8:23, taking Jannik Hansen's pass in front of the goal and directing it past Anderson's left pad for his first goal since Nov. 29.
Cody Hodgson left the game on wobbly legs after he was crunched by Foligno in the first period. Hodgson did not return.