Santorelli gives yawner some life

GAME’S TOP PERFORMER: Forward comes to play and gets rewarded with two goals in victory on home ice Tony Gallagher – The Province | Monday December 9, 2013

For a long while Sunday night, you might have suggested that if the Vancouver Canucks were as

fan-friendly as they claim to be, there would be another exhortation programmed into the big

screen at centre ice at Rogers Arena.

It would be played an equal number of times with the one that screams at the spectators,

“Someone make some noise in this place.”

This new one would blare: “Someone provide some entertainment in this place.”

Because maybe if they played that one, the home team might not spend 40 minutes in a comatose

state before showing at least a modicum of interest in beating the equally paralytic Colorado

Avalanche, something they finally got around to doing with a couple of goals in the final session

to put away a game convincingly for a change.

In a game where you would have expected Vancouver to come out with some jump and expose

the youth on the Colorado back end, there appeared to be no energy, other than Mike Santorelli,

who fortunately has been the Energizer Bunny all season and impossible not to appreciate.

But all is well that ends well, and given this team’s performance at home much of the season,

there will be ample opportunity to belabour this complaint, particularly if you happen to pay for

tickets.

In the end, you have to conclude that the more things change, the more they stay the same when

these teams meet. The Avs came in with a 10-3-0 road record, having beaten many of the best

teams in the league, when last season they were the worst team on the road at 4-164 in the

shortened season.

But regardless of how they’re playing, they always turn to jelly whenever they arrive in

Vancouver. Despite being with the Canucks in the former Northwest Division, the Avs haven’t

won here since April of 2010, and Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo hasn’t lost to this team in

regulation in 14 starts, going 12-0-2 during his ownership period.

Given the Avs’ collection of good young forwards, this may not last much longer, but on this

night Luongo got the win despite the disappointment of giving up the shutout with seven seconds

left after the Avs had their goalie pulled for the last five minutes of the game down 3-0.

“I don’t know whether it was trying to win or whether it’s because I’m just one (career shutout)

behind Patty (Avs coach Patrick Roy),” said Luongo, who’s actually two behind. “No seriously,

there’s five minutes left and a lot of things can happen. It’s a good play really.” Luongo — who

made at least three sensational saves earlier, two of them against John Mitchell and another

against Matt Duchene — was the second best Canuck on the evening, although the back end as a

unit was pretty solid given the quality of the Colorado forwards.

The best Canuck was clearly Santorelli, who gave life to the second line, the only one going for

either team.

“He has been good,” said Canucks coach John Tortorella of Sunday night’s two-goal scorer,

although Torts confessed he and the rest of the coaches, like many of the fans, thought Santorelli

may have been slipping a little earlier in the season. “He was our best player by far tonight.

When I put him on that line in Nashville with Kes (Ryan Kesler) and Higgy (Chris Higgins) ...

that line has just taken off.”

“I skated with him a little bit at Factory hockey with Jeff Tambellini in the summer, and I felt

right away, ‘this guy is good’, ” said Kevin Bieksa. “And then I started to think, ‘Nah, he’s just a

shinny player, a summer player.’ We see hundreds of them each summer. But he’s come in and

really backed it up. He came in great shape and he’s played well for us. He’s been clutch.”

As many of the yawning fans could attest, he was their only life much of the night, and anyone

going out to Monday night’s affair has to hope that some of the bad feeling from the earlier game

between the Hurricanes and Canucks in Carolina carries over to this one.

The return of former Canuck Manny Malhotra, after all, certainly warrants a solid effort from

everyone.

Santo comes early for the Canucks

Ben Kuzma – The Province | Monday December 9, 2013

WINNING STREAK: Santorelli and his second-line teammates lead the way as team captures fourth straight

It was looking like Mike Santorelli might have hit the wall.

During an eight-game goal drought last month, the versatile Vancouver Canucks forward

generated just five shots in four outings and was perhaps nearing the expiration date on his

effectiveness.

However, all that rigorous off-season training and a willingness to do whatever it took on a daily

basis to reward a club that took a chance on the free agent paid off Sunday at Rogers Arena. On a

night where the Canucks looked awful in the first period and were vulnerable of blowing a

thirdperiod lead for the sixth time in eight games, Santorelli scored twice in a 3-1 win over the

Colorado Avalanche.

In winning four straight games for the first time this season to move into eighth position in the

Western Conference, the traction the Canucks gained by pushing the pace in the third period —

and the shutout that Roberto Luongo lost with 7.1 seconds remaining on a Jamie McGinn goal—

were overshadowed by Santorelli.

“There were three or four games where we (coaches) talked and were afraid he was beginning to

lose it a bit (but) he regained himself,” said Canucks coach John Tortorella.

“He was our best player by far (Sunday) in all areas. Other than three or four games, he’s done

all the little things to get the minutes and be put in the situations he’s been put in. It’s great to see

a guy with probably his last kick of the can here as far as playing in the NHL just get himself

ready.”

It has to be as much about will as skill when you sign a one-year, twoway contract and are

earning a paltry $550,000 US at the NHL level. The 27-year-old Vancouver native had been a

second-line staple at centre when Ryan Kesler was aligned with Henrik and Daniel Sedin and

when Kesler played wing on the second line. But when Kesler was put in the middle between

Chris Higgins and Santorelli on Dec. 1 in Carolina, the trio clicked. And if you want a

longwinded explanation from Santorelli about his effectiveness on that line, you won’t get one.

He will talk of the “we” instead of “me” but it’s hard not to trumpet what he accomplished

Sunday.

“Our line played great tonight,” he said. “We wanted to come out and continue playing. If you

want to be successful in this league, you’ve got to be able to hold on to leads and tonight we did

it the right way. They (Kesler, Higgins) are two unbelievable players and you can learn a lot

from them. They communicate a lot on the bench, letting you know where they are. I just want to

keep improving.”

That’s been Santorelli’s mantra from training camp because in 34 games with Winnipeg and

Florida during the lockout season, he had just two goals, which is far removed from his 20-goal

season with the Panthers in 2010-11.

With eight goals this season on a second line that looked like a first line Sunday, he should pass

that career high. When Higgins stripped Nate Guenin of the puck behind the Avalanche net and

fed Santorelli in the slot, he neatly went wide on the backhand to slip the puck past Jean-

Sebastien Giguere at 5:34 of the first period, a precarious lead the Canucks took into the third

period. That’s when Santorelli let a shot go in the slot before Kesler pounced on the rebound to

make it 2-0. Santorelli then streaked down right wing and snapped home a wrist shot on the stick

side to finish with six shots.

“Higgy made a great play on the first goal to cause the turnover and find me,” said Santorelli.

“And on the second goal, I was with Higgy and I was thinking pass, but I kind of saw the D-man

shading towards him and had a chance to shoot.”

Santorelli left the game briefly after being rammed into the corner boards. He seemed to be

favouring his left shoulder and left arm, but may have been winded.

“Uh, I took a hit,” he shrugged. “Let’s leave it that way.” Getting that second goal was vital

Sunday.

The Avalanche had Paul Stastny between Ryan O’Reilly and PA Parenteau on the top line and

Matt Duchene between Gabriel Landeskog and 2013 first overall pick Nathan MacKinnon on the

second line. The six have combined for 53 goals.

When Nick Holden’s shot off a Ryan Stanton turnover late in the second period went post-to-

post on Luongo and out, it seemed to set the stage for a third-period litmus test for the Canucks.

They passed. With high marks. Finally. Santorelli didn’t take a bow, but he should have.

Canucks find a way to finish the deal

Ed Wiles – The Province | Monday December 9, 2013

STEP IN RIGHT DIRECTION: Notorious for piddling points away, home side finally gets the job done in third

Kevin Bieksa said the Vancouver Canucks definitely learned from their mistakes of two nights

before in Sunday night’s 3-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.

Or maybe he was talking about the mistakes from two weeks ago against the L.A. Kings. Or

maybe it was the game before that against the Chicago Blackhawks. Or the Nov. 19 game against

the Florida Panthers. Or Nov. 17 against the Dallas Stars. Or Nov. 14 against the San Jose

Sharks.

The Canucks, in fact, could call on any number of third-period meltdowns this season as a life

lesson to apply against the Avs, but you can also say this for them. After piddling away points

the way a drunken sailor piddles away his paycheque, they finally got the last act right against

the Avalanche.

Whether this is the start of a brave new world or a temporary interruption from the litany of

final-frame failures remains to be seen. But one thing is certain. After three weeks of

regurgitating third-period leads, this business of closing the deal is preferable to the alternative.

“It’s a mindset,” Bieksa said after the Canucks’ win over the Avs, their fifth in their last six

games.

“It’s continuing to push. It’s not sitting back and waiting for something bad to happen.”

And bad things were happening to the Canucks during a three-week stretch on home ice. Very

bad things. “I think maybe the first couple of times it was bad bounces and bad plays

individually,” Bieksa continued. “I think after that the mindset kicked in, ‘Here we go again.’

We were sitting back. We were cautious and tentative. Tonight we played better with the lead.”

Which sounds so simple. For the Canucks it was anything but.

Sunday night the Orcans carried a 1-0 lead into the third period against the sexy, young Avs but

after a nightmarish series of calamities on home ice they got the end game right this time. Instead

of going catatonic, as they had on six different occasions in the previous three weeks, the

Canucks played smart, played aggressively and, get this, scored two goals in the third period.

The resulting 3-1 win was easier, much easier, than those angst-filled OTL’s the Canucks were

specializing in and were driving head coach John Tortorella insane.

True, there’s still the matter of the six points they let get away in the aforementioned games,

most recently on Friday against Phoenix when they squandered a 2-0 third-period lead, but the

Canucks, for the moment, are back in the playoffs and they’re trending in the right direction.

“We can sit here all night and talk about situational play as far as I define it,” Tortorella said.

“It’s being above the puck. It’s protecting the puck. There are so many different things that come

into it and it comes into the last part of the period, the first part of the period and especially the

third period when you have the lead or you’re tied. There are some things you need to do.”

After a somnolent first period, the Canucks did most of those things.

OK, it helped that the line of Mike Santorelli, Ryan Kesler and Chris Higgins had a big night.

Santorelli scored twice. Kesler scored the 2-0 goal early in the third. Higgins had two assists and

was at his diligent best.

But against a team that’s long on talent and short on experience, the Canucks looked the part of

the winner over the final 40 minutes. They played intelligently. They played resourcefully. And

they attacked when the opportunities presented themselves. Maybe it didn’t make for the most

entertaining game but the Canucks, at least, were in control, and considering some of their recent

efforts, that’s a step in the right direction.

“We just kept talking about regular things,” said Roberto Luongo who, as is his wont, lost the

shutout in the final seven seconds. “We didn’t talk about the lead. We didn’t talk about anything

but playing our game.”

“You’ve got to be really careful,” Tortorella said. “If you talk too much about it, it turns into a

self-fulfilling prophecy. We forechecked and kept on playing. I just thought the guys played

better.”

Torts, of course, was singing a different tune after Friday night. It wasn’t quite the full-scale

eruption of Mt. Tortorella but he said some pointed things, including: “We have to get out of this

situation of not finishing off games because we’re not going anywhere until we do.”

Sunday night they finished off the game. Now we wait to see if it leads anywhere.

Santorelli steps up to bury Avs

Iain Macintyre – The Vancouver Sun | Monday December 9, 2013

Four straight: Best line on the ice didn’t have a Sedin; and best team didn’t win, but that’s life in funny NHL

The Vancouver Canucks were a one- line team again on Sunday, but no one on it was named

Sedin.

With the team struggling early on to take care of the puck, string together passes and spend more

than just a few seconds at a time in the offensive zone, the second- line trio of Mike Santorelli,

Chris Higgins and Ryan Kesler took over the game.

Sometimes, even as competitive and complicated as the National Hockey League seems, that’s

all it takes to win. Not usually, but sometimes.

On their last homestand, the Canucks outplayed a couple of Stanley Cup contenders but found

ways to lose. Sunday, they muddled through their mistakes against the Colorado Avalanche and

managed to win 3- 1.

It was the Canucks’ fourth straight victory, matching a season- high. They haven’t looked

exceptional in any of them. But instead of playing well and failing, as they did last month during

a disheartening run of losses against the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks

and Los Angeles Kings, the Canucks are coping with their mistakes and manufacturing wins. It’s

not exciting, but it’s progress. Santorelli, Kesler and Higgins? Well, they were as exciting as they

were effective on Sunday, and the Canucks needed them to be in a game when they were terrible

early on against a younger, quicker, sharper Avalanche team. “It’s a funny game,” Kesler said,

meaning the NHL, not just Sunday’s opportunistic win. “We were leading 1- 0 when we could

have been down 3- 0. I don’t think anyone in this room was pleased. We didn’t start the way we

wanted to, but I liked our bounce back. I like the way we started in the second period and

continued in the third.

“I think the onus ( to carry the team) will be passed around this room. You can’t just rely on one

line going all the time.”

And Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who played Sunday with Jannik Hansen after playing Friday with

David Booth in the absence of injured first- liner Alex Burrows, were unreliable against the

Avalanche. They struggled to translate puck possession into scoring chances and managed just

three shots on net.

Santorelli and Kesler, by contrast, registered six shots apiece — combining for more than half of

the 21 shots the Canucks put on the target protected by Colorado goalie JeanSebastien Giguere,

who was badly outplayed by Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo and lost for the first time this season.

Santorelli scored in the first and third periods and set up Kesler’s goal in the final period, too.

The forward from Burnaby, moved by coach John Tortorella to the wing from centre after the

jaw injury to Burrows four games ago, was the best player on either team.

It gets harder by the week to recall that Santorelli, who turns 28 on Saturday, was waived by the

Florida Panthers last season and dumped by the Winnipeg Jets after it.

“I’m not surprised at anything with him right now,” Tortorella said after his team moved back

into playoff position for first time in three weeks. “I just think it’s great to see a guy — probably

his last kick at the can here as far as playing in the National Hockey League — just get himself

ready.

“It’s a great lesson for young players, like a Zack Kassian, like a ( Zac) Dalpe, as far as just

being in the top shape you can be. It allows the game to come to you. That’s what he did.”

But it was only a few games ago, Tortorella said, the coaching staff was worried midnight might

be approaching on Santorelli’s Cinderella start. His play had tapered and he wasn’t generating

offence the way he had for most of the fall.

Santorelli, however, opened the last road trip in Ottawa with a goal and assist in Vancouver’s 5-

2 win. And he, Kesler and Higgins have shown potent and immediate chemistry as linemates.

“They’re two unbelievable players to play with,” Santorelli said. “You learn a lot from them.

We’re communicating on the bench and letting each other know where we are. It’s been fun.”

“It’s a lot of reasons,” Kesler said when asked why the line has been successful. “We play down

low, we hold on to pucks. Since Higgy got here, I think he’s one of the best players in the league

down low, protecting the puck. All three of us are good at that, but we’re also good on the rush

and can beat you with our speed.

“It’s tough to know a guy who was playing three time zones away across the country. (

Santorelli) impressed me in camp. I like his speed, like the game he brings.” The crowd liked it,

too. There were chants inside Rogers Arena of “Santo- relli! Santo- relli!” as the forward skated

his final shifts Sunday in search of his first NHL hat trick.

“Were there?” he smiled. “I never heard them. That’s pretty nice.”

The win was pretty nice, too, even if there were lots of blemishes to it.

“I thought our first period was awful,” Tortorella said. “And then I thought we gathered

ourselves and started playing. Although it was 1- 0, if we play that way the rest of the game, we

get spanked. I really thought the guys did a really good job of stepping up their play and playing

quicker.”

For a while, Santorelli’s line was all the Canucks had going for them.

“It comes and goes,” Tortorella said. “Maybe two weeks from now, we’re talking: ‘ Holy sh--,

where’d they go? That’s what happens. But those are the things we have to read through as

coaches and see where we go with it.”

Hitting pothole on road back to respectability

Elliott Pap – The Vancouver Sun | Monday December 9, 2013

They may still be the Av- nots at Rogers, but Colorado no longer a bad joke under Roy, Sakic

The Colorado Avalanche are enjoying a renaissance under new coach Patrick Roy, but some

things never change when they come to Vancouver.

The Avs are the Av- nots at Rogers Arena, where they have lost nine straight games, including

Sunday’s 3- 1 defeat inflicted upon them by the Canucks. In recent years, it was just another loss

en route to another disappointing season. This time it was a mere pothole on the road back to

respectability.

Veteran Colorado netminder J. S. Giguere, for those of you keeping score at home, was highly

critical of his teammates during the 2012- 13 lockoutshortened season. The Avs sunk to 29th

place and finished ahead of only the truly dreadful Florida Panthers. Giguere was not amused.

“Some guys are more worried about their Vegas trip at the end of the season,” he said back then.

“It’s embarrassing. I’m embarrassed to be here right now. It’s not even funny.”

It’s gone from not funny to Fun City. The Avalanche began the season by winning 10 of their

first 11. They are 20- 8- 0 on the year and sit in a playoff position two months into the Roy- Joe

Sakic regime.

“We are a totally different group than last year,” Giguere said following the loss, his first after

seven straight wins. “We have a different mindset. Patrick and the coaching staff have brought a

lot of new things and a lot of enthusiasm to our group.

“We have some different guys on the team, some different leadership and our young guys are

one year older. It’s a lot more fun around here. It’s been a treat.”

Roy, for his part, wasn’t concerned that he had inherited a group of losers with no work ethic and

bad attitudes. Far from it.

“Quite honestly, it hasn’t been a problem since the start of the year,” he said. “It’s a great group.

It’s a group that works hard and plays with a lot of pride. I’m very proud of them so far.”

Roy even felt his boys outplayed the Canucks on Sunday, although they never led and didn’t

score until Jamie McGinn beat Roberto Luongo with 7.1 seconds remaining in the final period.

Roy pulled Giguere with five minutes left to send a message to his players to never, ever

surrender.

“It was important for us as coaches to show our players that we are not quitting,” he explained.

“And they did the same thing. I mean, they kept going. You know what? All year we’ve been

like this. We never quit. I honestly think we played a better game than Vancouver but,

unfortunately, we have nothing to show for the result. Luongo was good. Both goalies were

good. It could have gone either way.”

The game’s pivotal point occurred late in the second period when Avalanche defenceman Nick

Holden, the former Chilliwack Bruin, rang one off the crossbar- post- and-out with the Canucks

clinging to their 1- 0 advantage. Had that one gone in, it’s perhaps a different story.

“Obviously you want that to bounce in, instead of out,” said Holden, who played two seasons

with Canuck Mike Santorelli’s brother Mark in Chilliwack. “I heard it hit the crossbar and then it

went straight down into the crease. I didn’t know if it was in or not. I guess that’s the way

hockey goes sometimes.”

For the most part, it’s been going pretty well for the Avalanche.

Santorelli lifts Canucks to win over

Avalanche

Monte Stewart – The Globe and Mail | Sunday December 8, 2013, 10:53PM

Mike Santorelli continued his rise from the NHL’s scrap heap with a flourish Sunday night.

Santorelli, who was signed as free agent by Vancouver in the off-season after being cast adrift by

three other NHL clubs, scored two goals and added an assist as the Canucks beat the Colorado

Avalanche 3-1.

“It feels nice to, for sure, a lot of us have been sniffing around (the net) and our line played great

tonight,” said Santorelli.

The 27-year-old Vancouver native was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the sixth round

(178th overall) in 2004, but spent much of his four seasons with them in the minors and failed to

stick with Florida and Winnipeg while also playing briefly in Sweden during the NHL lockout

last season.

But Santorelli, who joined Vancouver on a two-way contract, now has eight goals on the season,

easily surpassing the two he produced with Florida last season while splitting the campaign with

the Panthers and Jets. And, he is just one shy of the nine goals that he had in 60 games with

Florida in 2011-12.

“He was our best player by far tonight in all areas,” said Canucks coach John Tortorella.

The Canucks (17-10-5) posted their fifth win in sixth games and moved within a point of the

upstart Avs (20-8-0) in the tight Western Conference standings.

“I honestly felt we played a better game than them and, unfortunately, we have nothing to show

for the result,” said Colorado coach Patrick Roy. “But, I mean, Luongo was good. Both goalies

were good, actually.”

Ryan Kesler also scored for the Canucks, who were outshot 29-21 by the Avalanche.

Jamie McGinn replied for Colorado with only 7.1 seconds left in the game. As a result, Canucks

goaltender Roberto Luongo was denied the 65th shutout of his career and a chance to move

within one of tying Roy, who ranks 14th all-time in NHL history.

“If you ask me about the goal I am going to snap,” Luongo said with a laugh. “It’s all right, that

stuff happens. We’ll take the two points and move on.”

The Canucks goaltender improved his record on the season to 14-8-5.

Colorado goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere, 36, lost for the first time in eight decisions this

season. The Avs suffered only their third loss in the past nine games.

Giguere’s 7-0-0 start to the season was a career best as well as a Colorado franchise goaltending

record.

“I didn’t think we played terribly bad,” said Giguere. “But I don’t think it was our best effort,

either. I don’t think it was, overall, a great effort by either team. It was kind of a grind-it-out type

of game, and they got the two goals in the third. We just couldn’t recover from that.”

The Canucks, criticized by Tortorella following Friday’s overtime win over Phoenix for an

ongoing inability to finish out wins, broke open a tight game with two goals in the third period.

Kesler put the Canucks ahead 2-0 at 1:32 of the second period as he tucked in Santorelli’s

rebound while standing alone beside the net. The goal was Kesler’s fifth goal in his past four

games and 15th in 32 total games this season, putting him just seven shy of the 22 he mustered in

77 contests in 2011-12. He has already surpassed the measly four he scored in an injury-plagued

and lockout-shortened 2013 campaign.

About five minutes later, Santorelli beat Giguere with a high shot while using linemate Chris

Higgins as a decoy on a 2-on-1.

Vancouver’s third-period onslaught came after Colorado’s Holden beat Luongo with a high

slapper, but hit the crossbar with just over three minutes left in the second.

The Canucks’ second line of Santorelli, Kesler and Higgins, who had two assists, accounted for

all of Vancouver’s goals.

“They are two unbelievable players to play with and it’s nice playing with two guys like that,”

said Santorelli. “You learn a lot from them. We are communicating with each other on the bench

and letting each other know where we are and things like that, and it’s been fun.”

Vancouver was blanked on three power plays, marking the first time in eight games that they

have not scored with the man-advantage. Colorado had one power play.

Giguere was not perturbed by the end of his unbeaten string.

“These are just stats for you (media) guys to talk about,” said Giguere. “It was nice, but I try to

go in there and compete every day and, unfortunately, losing is part of the game, too. I’m just

gonna regroup and get ready for the next chance that I get to play.”

McGinn spoiled Luongo’s shutout after Roy pulled Giguere in favour of an extra attacker for

most of the last five minutes.

“We pulled the goalie with five minutes left in the game for us as coaches to show our players

that we (don’t) quit,” said Roy.

Luongo joked that Roy pulled his goalie early to prevent him from getting close to the Hall of

Famer’s shutout total.

“There’s no danger there,” said Roy. “He’ll pass me there, for sure.”

Luongo won’t have to wait long for another chance to tie Roy. The Canucks host Carolina on

Monday while Colorado heads home to meet Phoenix on Tuesday.

Notes: The Canucks recalled defenceman Yannick Weber from Utica of the AHL earlier Sunday.

He adds further depth following Alex Edler’s undisclosed injury and coach John Tortorella’s

comment that Andrew Alberts’ play “scares” him. a Edler sat out his second consecutive game. a

This season marks the first since the former Quebec Nordiques franchise relocated to Colorado

that the Avs and Canucks are not competing in the same division.

Santorelli has 2 goals in Canucks win over

Avs

Canadian Press – Sportsnet | Sunday December 8, 2013, 11:02PM

VANCOUVER — Mike Santorelli continued his rise from the NHL’s scrap heap with a flourish

Sunday night.

Santorelli, who was signed as free agent by Vancouver in the off-season after being cast adrift by

three other NHL clubs, scored two goals and added an assist as the Canucks beat the Colorado

Avalanche 3-1.

"It feels nice to, for sure, a lot of us have been sniffing around (the net) and our line played great

tonight," said Santorelli.

The 27-year-old Vancouver native was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the sixth round

(178th overall) in 2004, but spent much of his four seasons with them in the minors and failed to

stick with Florida and Winnipeg while also playing briefly in Sweden during the NHL lockout

last season.

But Santorelli, who joined Vancouver on a two-way contract, now has eight goals on the season,

easily surpassing the two he produced with Florida last season while splitting the campaign with

the Panthers and Jets. And, he is just one shy of the nine goals that he had in 60 games with

Florida in 2011-12.

"He was our best player by far tonight in all areas," said Canucks coach John Tortorella.

The Canucks (17-10-5) posted their fifth win in sixth games and moved within a point of the

upstart Avs (20-8-0) in the tight Western Conference standings.

"I honestly felt we played a better game than them and, unfortunately, we have nothing to show

for the result," said Colorado coach Patrick Roy. "But, I mean, Luongo was good. Both goalies

were good, actually."

Ryan Kesler also scored for the Canucks, who were outshot 29-21 by the Avalanche.

Jamie McGinn replied for Colorado with only 7.1 seconds left in the game. As a result, Canucks

goaltender Roberto Luongo was denied the 65th shutout of his career and a chance to move

within one of tying Roy, who ranks 14th all-time in NHL history.

"If you ask me about the goal I am going to snap," Luongo said with a laugh. "It’s all right, that

stuff happens. We’ll take the two points and move on."

The Canucks goaltender improved his record on the season to 14-8-5.

Colorado goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere, 36, lost for the first time in eight decisions this

season. The Avs suffered only their third loss in the past nine games.

Giguere’s 7-0-0 start to the season was a career best as well as a Colorado franchise goaltending

record.

"I didn’t think we played terribly bad," said Giguere. "But I don’t think it was our best effort,

either. I don’t think it was, overall, a great effort by either team. It was kind of a grind-it-out type

of game, and they got the two goals in the third. We just couldn’t recover from that."

The Canucks, criticized by Tortorella following Friday’s overtime win over Phoenix for an

ongoing inability to finish out wins, broke open a tight game with two goals in the third period.

Kesler put the Canucks ahead 2-0 at 1:32 of the second period as he tucked in Santorelli’s

rebound while standing alone beside the net. The goal was Kesler’s fifth goal in his past four

games and 15th in 32 total games this season, putting him just seven shy of the 22 he mustered in

77 contests in 2011-12. He has already surpassed the measly four he scored in an injury-plagued

and lockout-shortened 2013 campaign.

About five minutes later, Santorelli beat Giguere with a high shot while using linemate Chris

Higgins as a decoy on a 2-on-1.

Vancouver’s third-period onslaught came after Colorado’s Holden beat Luongo with a high

slapper, but hit the crossbar with just over three minutes left in the second.

The Canucks’ second line of Santorelli, Kesler and Higgins, who had two assists, accounted for

all of Vancouver’s goals.

"They are two unbelievable players to play with and it’s nice playing with two guys like that,"

said Santorelli. "You learn a lot from them. We are communicating with each other on the bench

and letting each other know where we are and things like that, and it’s been fun."

Vancouver was blanked on three power plays, marking the first time in eight games that they

have not scored with the man-advantage. Colorado had one power play.

Giguere was not perturbed by the end of his unbeaten string.

"These are just stats for you (media) guys to talk about," said Giguere. "It was nice, but I try to

go in there and compete every day and, unfortunately, losing is part of the game, too. I’m just

gonna regroup and get ready for the next chance that I get to play."

McGinn spoiled Luongo’s shutout after Roy pulled Giguere in favour of an extra attacker for

most of the last five minutes.

"We pulled the goalie with five minutes left in the game for us as coaches to show our players

that we (don’t) quit," said Roy.

Luongo joked that Roy pulled his goalie early to prevent him from getting close to the Hall of

Famer’s shutout total.

"There’s no danger there," said Roy. "He’ll pass me there, for sure."

Luongo won’t have to wait long for another chance to tie Roy. The Canucks host Carolina on

Monday while Colorado heads home to meet Phoenix on Tuesday.

Notes: The Canucks recalled defenceman Yannick Weber from Utica of the AHL earlier

Sunday. He adds further depth following Alex Edler’s undisclosed injury and coach John

Tortorella’s comment that Andrew Alberts’ play "scares" him. a Edler sat out his second

consecutive game. a This season marks the first since the former Quebec Nordiques franchise

relocated to Colorado that the Avs and Canucks are not competing in the same division.

Canucks hang on to defeat Avalanche

Gordon McIntyre – The Sports XChange | Monday December 9, 2013

VANCOUVER - The Canucks did something on Sunday evening they’ve had trouble

accomplishing at home of late.

They not only held onto a third-period lead, but they extended that lead and beat the Colorado

Avalanche 3-1 at Rogers Arena.

In five of their previous seven home games, the Canucks had surrendered third-period leads and

they won just one of those games, needing overtime.

“That’s what we want to do, not sit back and protect a one-goal lead,” said Vancouver centre

Ryan Kesler, whose third-period goal made it 2-0.

His right winger Mike Santorelli had two goals and left winger Chris Higgins two assists as the

trio dominated throughout the game.

“We generated a lot of pressure down low and we generated chances off the rush, too,” Kesler

said.

Santorelli opened scoring 5:34 into the first period with a nifty move on Colorado goalie J.S.

Giguere.

Higgins, on a strong forecheck, caused Colorado defenseman Nate Guenin to turn over the puck

behind the Avs net.

Higgins fed Santorelli, who deked to his backhand to score.

Higgins again set up Santorelli in the third, his shot from the slot stopped by Giguere but poked

home on the rebound by Kesler.

Santorelli, on a 2-on-1 with Higgins, went high over Giguere’s shoulder to make it 3-0 at 7:17 of

the third.

“When you’re playing with two great players, it helps,” said Santorelli, who recorded his second

two-goal game of the season. “I was going to pass to Higgy, but I saw the defenseman cheating

toward him, so I shot instead.”

The line was put together three games ago and has combined for six goals and nine points since

then while also playing solidly in the defensive zone.

“Santo was our best player tonight, by far,” Canucks head coach John Tortorella said. “He’s a

big reason that line is playing so well.”

Colorado broke Roberto Luongo’s shutout bid with 7.1 seconds to play and Giguere pulled for an

extra attacker, with Jamie McGinn poking the puck past the Vancouver goalie.

Colorado coach Patrick Roy began pulling his goalie with five minutes still left in the game.

“We pulled the goalie with five minutes left in the game for us as coaches to show our players

that we don’t quit,” Roy said. “They did the same thing. They kept going.

“I honestly felt we played a better game than them and, unfortunately, we have nothing to show

for the result,“

“I don’t think it was the best effort from either team,“ said Giguere, who faced only 21

Vancouver shots. “That game, there were a lot of whistles, I don’t think it was a great hockey

game to watch.“

It was Giguere’s first loss of the season, his record dropping to 7-1-0.

Luongo stopped 28 of 29 shots.

Even though the Canucks jumped to a lead in the sixth minute of the game, Tortorella was not

pleased with his club’s opening 20 minutes.

“I don’t think they realized it was a 5 p.m. start,“ Tortorella said. “After the first period, even

though we were up 1-0, we play like that the rest of the game and we get spanked.

“After the first we defended really well, handled the quickness the Avs have up front really well,

keeping them from the areas they wanted to be in.”

Nothing was said between the second and third periods about playing with the lead, because

nothing needed to be said, Tortorella said.

“It’s simple,” the coach said. “Stay on your toes, try to gain territory.

“When you talk too much about (protecting leads), it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.“

The Canucks play again on Monday night when they host the Carolina Hurricanes.

Colorado wrapped up a three-game Western Canada swing and hosts the Phoenix Coyotes on

Tuesday in Denver.

NOTES

Colorado has not won a game in Vancouver in nine visits, the Avs’ last win at Rogers Arena

being a 4-3 shootout victory on April 6, 2010. ... Last season, shortened by an NHL lockout, the

Avalanche were 4-16-4 on the road, worst in the NHL. This season, heading into Sunday’s game,

the Avs sported a 10-3-0 record on the road. ... The Avs are led by a youth movement: Their

leading scorer heading into the game was captain LW Gabriel Landesko (21 years, 22 points),

followed by C Matt Duchene (22 years, 21 points). C Nathan MacKinnon, the first overall pick

in the 2013 NHL entry draft, is still 18 and had 17 points heading into Sunday. ... The Canucks

recalled D Yannick Weber from the Utica Comets. Weber had seven points in seven games

during his time in the American Hockey League, but he did not dress for Vancouver. D Andrew

Alberts drew in for the second straight game for the injured D Alex Edler.

Good as gold: Canucks continue to dominate

Avs

Elliott Pap – The Vancouver Sun | Sunday December 8, 2013

GAME ESSENTIALS

THE SKINNY

The Canucks carried a 1-0 lead into the third period for the third time in their last 8 homes games

but this time they protected it like Fort Knox protects gold. Ryan Kesler and Mike Santorelli,

with his second of the night, scored on the Canucks' first and third shots of the third to extend the

lead to three. That was sufficient run support for Roberto Luongo, who made 28 saves for his

14th victory of the season. He lost his shutout bid with 7.1 seconds remaining in the game.

BY THE NUMBERS

The Canuck power play was 0-for-3 Sunday, ending a streak of seven straight games in which it

scored... The Avalanche have lost nine straight in Vancouver and have been outscored 32-10

during that time... The Canucks scored on their first shot of both the first and third periods...

Brad Richardson led Canuck centremen in the faceoff dot, going 9-for-13. Henrik Sedin

struggled and was 7-for-18. Overall, the Canucks were one better than the Avs, 31-30...Eleven

NHL teams had scouts at Sunday's game.

WEBER BACK

After seven games in the American League with the Utica Comets, defenceman Yannick Weber

was recalled Sunday by the Canucks, although he didn't dress against the Avalanche. The Swiss

native had seven points in his seven-game stint with the Comets. In his last two games before the

recall, Weber had a goal and an assist but was a minus-4. Prior to his demotion, he appeared in

10 games with the big club and had no points while averaging just 5:34 time on ice.

NEXT UP

The Carolina Hurricanes pay a visit Monday night to Rogers Arena seeking their first victory on

Vancouver ice since Oct. 15, 1999. Although it's a span of 14 years, the 'Canes have only played

here five times since then... After losing 3-2 at home to the Canucks on Dec. 1, the Hurricanes

have won three straight and have outscored their opponents 14-6... On the road, they are an

average 6-6-1... Captain Eric Staal leads them offensively with 23 points... 'Canes head coach

Kirk Muller attended Sunday's Canuck-Avalanche game.

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

Despite themselves, Canucks down Avs, 3-1

Iain MacIntyre – The Vancouver Sun | Monday December 9, 2013

VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Canucks were a one-line team again on Sunday, but no one on

it was named Sedin.

With the team struggling early on to take care of the puck, string together passes and spend more

than just a few seconds at a time in the offensive zone, the second-line trio of Mike Santorelli,

Chris Higgins and Ryan Kesler took over the game.

Sometimes, even as competitive and complicated as the National Hockey League seems, that's

all it takes to win. Not usually, but sometimes.

On their last homestand, the Canucks outplayed a couple of Stanley Cup contenders but found

ways to lose. Sunday, they muddled through their mistakes against the Colorado Avalanche and

managed to win 3-1.

It was the Canucks' fourth straight victory, matching a season-high. They haven't looked

exceptional in any of them. But instead of playing well but failing, as they did last month during

a disheartening run of losses against the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks

and Los Angeles Kings, the Canucks are coping with their mistakes and manufacturing wins.

It's not exciting, but it's progress. Santorelli, Kesler and Higgins? Well, they were as exciting as

they were effective on Sunday, and the Canucks needed them to be in a game when they were

terrible early on against a younger, quicker, sharper Avalanche team.

“It's a funny game,” Kesler said, meaning the NHL, not just Sunday's opportunistic win. “We

were leading 1-0 when we could have been down 3-0. I don't think anyone in this room was

pleased. We didn't start the way we wanted to, but I liked our bounce back. I like the way we

started in the second period and continued in the third.

“I think the onus (to carry the team) will be passed around this room. You can't just rely on one

line going all the time.”

And Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who played Sunday with Jannik Hansen after playing Friday with

David Booth in the absence of injured first-liner Alex Burrows, were unreliable against the

Avalanche. They struggled to translate puck possession into scoring chances and managed just

three shots on net.

Santorelli and Kesler, by contrast, registered six shots apiece – combining for more than half of

the 21 shots the Canucks put on the target protected by Colorado goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere,

who was badly outplayed by Vancouver's Roberto Luongo and lost for the first time this season.

Santorelli scored in the first and third periods and set up Kesler's goal in the final period, too.

The forward from Burnaby, moved by coach John Tortorella to the wing from centre after the

jaw injury to Burrows four games ago, was the best player on either team.

It gets harder by the week to recall that Santorelli, who turns 28 on Saturday, was waived by the

Florida Panthers last season and dumped by the Winnipeg Jets after it.

“I'm not surprised at anything with him right now,” Tortorella said after his team moved back

into playoff position for first time in three weeks. “I just think it's great to see a guy – probably

his last kick at the can here as far as playing in the National Hockey League – just get himself

ready.

“It's a great lesson for young players, like a Zack Kassian, like a (Zac) Dalpe, as far as just being

in the top shape you can be. It allows the game to come to you. That's what he did.”

But it was only a few games ago, Tortorella said, the coaching staff was worried midnight might

be approaching on Santorelli's Cinderella start. His play had tapered and he wasn't generating

offence the way he had for most of the fall.

Santorelli, however, opened the last road trip in Ottawa with a goal and assist in Vancouver's 5-2

win. And he, Kesler and Higgins have shown potent and immediate chemistry as linemates.

“They're two unbelievable players to play with,” Santorelli said. “You learn a lot from them.

We're communicating on the bench and letting each other know where we are. It's been fun.”

“It's a lot of reasons,” Kesler said when asked why the line has been successful. “We play down

low, we hold on to pucks. Since Higgy got here, I think he's one of the best players in the league

down low, protecting the puck. All three of us are good at that, but we're also good on the rush

and can beat you with our speed.

“It's tough to know a guy who was playing three time zones away across the country. (Santorelli)

impressed me in camp. I like his speed, like the game he brings.”

The crowd liked it, too.

There were chants inside Rogers Arena of “Santo-relli! Santo-relli!” as the forward skated his

final shifts Sunday in search of his first NHL hat trick.

“Were there?” he smiled. “I never heard them. That's pretty nice.”

The win was pretty nice, too, even if there were lots of blemishes to it.

“I thought our first period was awful,” Tortorella said. “And then I thought we gathered

ourselves and started playing. Although it was 1-0, if we play that way the rest of the game, we

get spanked. I really thought the guys did a really good job of stepping up their play and playing

quicker.”

For a while, Santorelli's line was all the Canucks had going for them.

“It comes and goes,” Tortorella said. “Maybe two weeks from now, we're talking: 'Holy sh--,

where'd they go? That's what happens. But those are the things we have to read through as

coaches and see where we go with it.”

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

Carolina Hurricanes at Vancouver Canucks: Game Preview 12-9-13 Jamie Kellner – Canes Country

The Canes and Canucks met a mere eight days ago, in a Sunday afternoon matinee at PNC

Arena. It was not a pleasant outcome for the home team, and the game was never as closely

matched as the 3-2 final score would indicate. To sum it up, there were a lot of passengers

wearing red New Storm jerseys, and the 0-6 effort on the power play was a particular low point.

So what has happened since last Sunday?

Vancouver has moved up to fourth in the Pacific Division. Starting with the win over the Canes

last Sunday, their win streak is now four straight including a 3-1 home win last night against the

Colorado Avalanche that didn't appear to be an overly taxing effort. The Canucks did not score

on the power play against the Avs, snapping a seven-game streak where they had logged at least

one power play goal. They remain the number one penalty killing team in the NHL, with an

89.3% success rate.

The Canucks come into tonight's game on the back end of a back-to-back and three-in-four

scenario, so they will not practice today and will likely ice a similar lineup to last night's game.

Roberto Luongo started in net last night and was 7.1 seconds away from a shutout, stopping 28

shots. Eddie Lack was in net for the win against the Canes last Sunday and may get a chance for

a repeat performance.

Mark Santorelli is coming off his first career three-point night, and Jason Garrison is riding a

four game points streak.

Alexander Edler has been sidelined with a lower body injury and is listed as day-to-day, joining

Jordan Schroeder who is out with an ankle injury. Andrew Alberts has been in the lineup to

replace Edler on defense, and Yannick Weber has been called up as well but sat out Sunday's

game.

The Canes have moved up to third in the Metro division after having won three in a row, the

most recent a 5-3 home win on Friday against the San Jose Sharks. Credit a renewed offense,

which started clicking into place the day after the loss to the Canucks, when head coach Kirk

Muller made a line change decision that united Eric Staal, Jeff Skinner, and Tuomo Ruutu. In

three games the trio has combined for 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) including a power play goal.

Credit also the return of Andrej Sekera, who missed two games with an upper body injury.

Sekera logged a point in each of the last three games, including a power play goal, and leads the

team in points from a defenseman in addition to solidifying the blue line with Justin Faulk.

There has been a lot of roster shuffling over the last week due to injuries, and here's how things

are sorting out as the team left Raleigh Saturday to start a four-game Western Conference road

trip (note, the Canes practiced Sunday in Vancouver but it's unknown as of this morning whether

or not they will have a morning skate):

Brett Bellemore left the game against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday after taking a

hit from Tom Wilson that left him with whiplash symptoms. He has missed the last two

games but traveled with the team and practiced yesterday in a no-contact jersey, so he

could return to the ice during the road trip.

Patrick Dwyer (stick to the face) and Drayson Bowman (puck to the leg) both suffered

injuries in Thursday's game against the Nashville Predators and missed Friday's game,

but both practiced yesterday and should be able to play tonight.

Mike Komisarek entered the lineup Thursday in place of Brett Bellemore but suffered a

lower body injury and has been placed on injured reserve. Tim Gleason returned to the

lineup in his place Friday.

Last but not least, Zach Boychuk made good on a one-day emergency call-up for Friday's

game, notching an assist, but has returned to Charlotte since Bowman and Dwyer appear

ready to return.

On the longer term injury front, both Alexander Semin (IR, concussion) and Anton Khudobin

(IR, ankle) traveled with the team and practiced yesterday (Semin in a no-contact jersey). It's

possible one or both could be activated during the road trip.

Canes projected line-up based on Sunday's practice:

Jeff Skinner - Eric Staal - Tuomo Ruutu

Nathan Gerbe - Jordan Staal - Elias Lindholm

Jiri Tlusty - Riley Nash - Patrick Dwyer

Drayson Bowman - Manny Malhotra - Radek Dvorak

Kevin Westgarth

Andrej Sekera - Justin Faulk

Jay Harrison - Tim Gleason

Ron Hainsey - Ryan Murphy

Cam Ward

Justin Peters

Canucks projected line-up based on Sunday's game:

Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Jannik Hansen

Chris Higgins - Ryan Kesler - Mike Santorelli

David Booth - Brad Richardson - Dale Weise

Tom Sestito - Zac Dalpe - Zack Kassian

Dan Hamhuis - Christopher Tanev

Ryan Stanton - Kevin Bieksa

Andrew Alberts - Jason Garrison

Roberto Luongo

Eddie Lack

We'll have the open game thread up and rolling by 9:30 pm. See you there. Don't forget your

caffeinated beverages.

Daily Primer Dec. 9: Hurricanes, Canucks

streaking

NHL Insider – NHL.com | Monday December 9, 2013

The Carolina Hurricanes and Vancouver Canucks have had some success of late, and each team

will put a winning streak on the line at Rogers Arena on Monday night.

Behind two goals from Mike Santorelli, the Canucks made it four in a row with a 3-1 victory

against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night. On Monday, they'll host the Hurricanes (10

p.m. ET, FS-CR, SNET-P), who begin a four-game road trip armed with a three-game winning

streak.

Here's a look at the action Monday:

Philadelphia Flyers at Ottawa Senators -- Philadelphia general manager Paul Holmgren

announced Sunday that center Vincent Lecavalier will miss 3-4 weeks with a non-displaced

fracture in his lower back, an injury sustained on Nov. 30 against the Nashville Predators.

Lecavalier is tied with Matt Read for the team lead with nine goals, including a team-leading five

on the power play and the Flyers are 2-5-0 without him. Ottawa fell to 0-4 in shootouts this

season with a 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. The Senators have yet to score

on 10 attempts.

Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins -- Columbus has won back-to-back games and

hasn't allowed a goal in either one. Curtis McElhinney, who is the No. 1 goalie for the

foreseeable future due to Sergei Bobrovsky's groin injury, made 20 saves in a 4-0 win against the

Minnesota Wild on Friday. Bobrovsky was injured early in the third period of a 1-0 victory

against the Tampa Bay Lightning last Tuesday. Pittsburgh opens a two-game homestand after a

3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday. The Penguins, who gave up two late goals in the third

period, sit atop the Metropolitan Division, seven points ahead of the Washington Capitals.

Opening faceoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET. The game can be seen on NBCSN in the United

States and TSN2 in Canada.

Carolina Hurricanes at Vancouver Canucks -- Carolina begins a four-game road trip with

hopes of extending its three-game winning streak. The Hurricanes made it three in a row with a

5-3 victory against the San Jose Sharks at PNC Arena on Friday. Carolina trailed 2-0 after the

first period, but scored four times in the third. The Canucks are also on a roll; they extended their

win streak to four games with a 3-1 victory against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night.

Monday marks the third of Vancouver's five-game homestand.

New York Islanders at Anaheim Ducks -- New York's winless streak reached nine games (0-7-

2) with a 3-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. The Islanders have lost nine in a row on

the road, all in regulation. On Monday, they'll face a team that has yet to lose in regulation at

home; Anaheim is 10-0-2 at Honda Center. Corey Perry has a goal in four straight games and at

least one point in six straight (five goals, three assists), and captain Ryan Getzlaf has a 12-game

point streak (nine goals, nine assists).