For the second consecutive game the Vancouver Canucks were beaten in a shootout by a struggling team. Tonight's lucky opponent: the Dallas Stars.
The Canucks were back at home following a successful two-game road trip where they collected three of a possible four points. Meanwhile, the Stars were coming off a dismal 4-1 loss to the Oilers in Edmonton the night before.
Early on the Canucks were flying as they out-skated and out-hustled Dallas to every loose puck. They were rewarded with a 2-0 lead with goals from Kyle Wellwood and Darcy Hordichuk in the first period.
The Stars however got the momentum when Mike Modano scored with 10 seconds left in the period to give the Stars some undeserved momentum into the intermission. The Stars carried that momentum into the second when Mike Ribeiro tied the game just as their two-man advantage was about to expire.
Nothing was settled in the third or in overtime due in large part to sensational play from both goaltenders.
Marty Turco held his team in, while Jason LaBarbera once again gave the Canucks incredible goaltending. His best save perhaps came in the third when he absolutely robbed Ribeiro point blank with the glove. LaBarbera made 34 saves, many spectacular on fan appreciation night at GM Place.
It looked like the Canucks' fortunes would change in the shootout with goals from Wellwood and Kesler in the shootout.
It was down to Modano to keep Dallas alive, and he showed once again why he is one of the most consistent forwards in the NHL. He managed to squeeze a shot which just trickled through LaBarbera.
That was as close as the Canucks would come as Burrows missed with his next shot and James Neal put it away for Dallas.
The shootout defeat, for the second game in a row, wasted a brilliant performance by LaBarbera, who has looked like Roberto Luongo in goal since his arrival to Vancouver. For LaBarbera it was a disappointment in his debut in his hometown.
"I was kind of looking forward to the excitement and to the exposure if we would have won in the shootout but, obviously, it didn't happen." LaBarbera told TSN.
"Shootouts are special things, and right now we don't seem to be able to play right at the end of them," said Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault.
Vancouver missed a real chance to gain some ground on their Northwest rivals as the Flames lost earlier in the day to the red hot Chicago Blackhawks. With the shootout loss the Cancuks move to within three points of Calgary in the division standings.
The Canucks goaltending now moves to Edmonton for a pivotal divisional matchup with the Oilers Wednesday before starting a five-game homestand where Mats Sundin is expected to make his debut.
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