Canucks 5, Avalanche 1
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Adam Cracknell scored his second goal in as many games, and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-1 at Rogers Arena on Sunday night.
It was the fourth-line center's fifth goal of the season and his first in front of a home crowd. He previously went 28 games without scoring.
Canucks right winger Jannik Hansen added two goals to boost his season total to a career-high 19.
Right winger Radim Vrbata scored his first goal in 15 games before defenseman Chris Tanev scored into an empty net with 8:23 to play in the third period after Colorado coach Patrick Roy pulled goalie Semyon Varlamov with 10 minutes left.
Vancouver center Henrik Sedin had four assists, and left winger Daniel Sedin added three assists.
The Canucks hadn't scored more than two goals in a home game since their last home win on Jan. 11.
Vancouver goalie Ryan Miller, who lost his bid for a shutout with 42 second to go in the game, kept the Canucks in it in the first period. He stopped six solid Colorado scoring chances, including one when center Matt Duchene was alone in the slot after Vancouver defenseman Ben Hutton turned over the puck with a pass up the middle.
Miller kicked out his right leg and got his toe on the puck in the second period when Avalanche defenseman Francois Beauchemin was all alone in front as the trailer on a three-on-two.
Miller had help from the goal post when Colorado left winger Blake Comeau hit the post at 1:43 of the third period. He then stopped Avs left winger Alex Tanguay on a breakaway 37 seconds later.
After Hansen made it 4-0 at 9:09 of the third, Colorado coach Patrick Roy pulled his goalie as soon as the Avalanche gained control following the center-ice faceoff.
Vrbata, who had 31 goals for the Canucks last season, scored his eighth of the year on a power play at 19:55 of the second period to give the Canucks a 3-0 lead.
Varlamov had drawn a delay-of-game penalty at 19:06 when he played the puck outside of the trapezoid.
For Vrbata, who had hit a goal post on a two-on-one in the first period, it was just his second goal in 25 games.
The winger, subject of many trade rumors as the deadline approaches, later limped off the ice after falling awkwardly in the corner five minutes into the third period. He did not return.
Canucks right winger Derek Dorsett also left in the third period and did not return.
Cracknell had what appeared to be his second goal of the game disallowed after a video review showed he punched the puck before it rolled over Varlamov's shoulder and into the net at 12:17 of the second period.
Of the Avalanche's 11 first-period shots, six were solid scoring opportunities, but it was the Canucks who led 2-0 after 20 minutes.
Cracknell took a pass from left winger Emerson Etem from the sideboards, waited patiently for Varlamov to make the first move put a backhand over the prone Colorado goalie at 8:31 to open the scoring.
Daniel Sedin fed a pass through a forest of Avalanche legs to Hansen in the slot, and Hansen one-timed the puck past Varlamov at 18:46 for a 2-0 lead.
Duchene scored Colorado's goal at 19:18 of the third period.
Miller finished with 37 saves, while Varlamov stopped 24 of the 28 shots he faced.
NOTES: The Canucks hadn't won at Rogers Arena in their previous six tries (0-5-1). Vancouver's previous home-ice win was on Jan. 11, a 3-2 decision over the Florida Panthers. ... Vancouver lost each of its previous four games by 5-2 scores. ... Former Canucks C Shawn Matthias was acquired Sunday by the Avalanche in a trade with Toronto but did not travel to Vancouver. Matthias, 28, appeared in 51 games for the Maple Leafs this season, recording six goals and 11 assists. ... Avalanche RW Jarome Iginla, who had an assist Sunday, has 32 goals and 82 points in 96 games against the Canucks. ... Canucks RW Linden Vey did not dress due to an undisclosed injury. ... Vancouver D Yannick Weber and C Alex Friesen as well as Colorado D Zach Redmond and LW Andreas Martinsen were healthy scratches.