Canucks 3, Hurricanes 2
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Center Bo Horvat scored his second goal of the night on a power play with 1:06 left in the third to give the Vancouver Canucks a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes Wednesday night.
Horvat took pass from behind the net from left winger Sven Baertschi and snapped a shot past Carolina goaltender Eddie Lack.
Horvat now has five goals this seasons and three in his last two games.
Defenseman Jaccob Slavin had been sent off for delay of game after shooting the puck over the glass.
Baertschi scored the other goal for Vancouver (16-16-9). The win improved Vancouver's record to 6-0-2 against Carolina in their last eight games at Rogers Arena.
Center Jordan Staal had a goal and an assist for Carolina. Defenseman John-Michael Liles also scored shorthanded for the Hurricanes (16-18-7).
Vancouver goaltender Jacob Markstrom, making his career-high fifth consecutive start, made 26 saves. Eddie Lack, playing in his first game in Vancouver since being traded by the Canucks on draft day, stopped 18 shots.
Staal tied the score 2-2 with eight minutes left in the third. Defenseman Noah Hanifin attempted a shot from the point but his stick broke. The puck went to Staal who turned and fired a shot that went over Markstrom's shoulder.
Horvat gave Vancouver a 2-1 lead at 7:15 of the third. The big center used his speed to sweep into the Carolina zone, then his strength to power past two defenders and tuck the puck into the corner of the net.
The teams exchanged second-period goals to head into the third tied 1-1.
Carolina opened the scoring at 8:02 while killing a penalty.
Center Jordan Staal made a nice play at the blue line to steal the puck off Vancouver right winger Linden Vey. He carried it into the Canuck zone, then dropped a pass to Liles, who beat Markstrom with a shot to the glove side for his second goal of the year.
It was the fifth shorthanded goal Vancouver has allowed this season.
Baertschi tied the game at 17:39. The Canucks caught the Hurricanes on a line change, allowing right winger Adam Cracknell to hit Baertschi with a long pass. He used his speed to break in on Lack and scored with a shot over the goaltender's shoulder.
It was Baertschi's fourth goal in six games.
The Canucks outshot Carolina 8-2 during a scoreless first period. Horvat had two breakaways. Lack stopped him once with a poke check and then made a pad save.
NOTES: LW Sven Baertschi, who missed two games with a neck injury, and LW Brandon Prust, out one game with a leg injury, returned to the Canucks lineup. ... LW Daniel Sedin has been selected to play in the NHL All-Star game. ... D Andrey Pedan, LW Chris Higgins and RW Jake Virtanen, recently returned from the World Junior Championships, were scratches. ... LW Ronald Kenins and RW Alexandre Grenier were returned to Utica of the AHL. ... Vancouver's homestand continues Saturday against Tampa Bay. ... Hurricanes' LW Phil Di Giuseppe, who suffered a concussion in Saturday's loss to Nashville, did not make the trip to Vancouver. ... LW Brock McGinn and D Michal Jordan were scratches. ... Carolina last won in Vancouver on Oct. 15, 1999. .... Six of Carolina's next seven games are against clubs currently outside of the playoff picture. ... The Hurricanes return home to play Columbus Friday.