A long anticipated matchup between these two Canadian franchises did not disappoint a national television audience. The Canucks, thanks once again in large part to the play of captain Roberto Luongo, were able to close out their home stand with a 4-2 victory over the visiting Maple Leafs.
An opening goal on the Canucks from former Leaf, Kyle Wellwood, first got the ball rolling for the Canucks. Ryan Kessler followed that with a power play goal later on in the period to put them ahead 2-0, despite being outshot 13-6. For a good portion of that period, they were badly outplayed.
The reason for the lead was the man that always causes it—captain Canuck Roberto Luongo. He was spectacular in the first, stopping all 13 first period shots and shutting the door on an early Leafs five on three for 1:57. Not even the loss of his stick on that power play was going to stop him from stopping the puck.
The Canucks built on that in the second with goals from Willie Mitchell (his first of the season) and Daniel Sedin to chase Vesa Toskala from the net. Toskala let in four goals on a mere nine shots. The Leafs made it interesting late in the third with goals from White and Stajan but, once again, the night belonged to Luongo.
A 4-2 win had vaulted the Canucks in a first place tie in the Northwest division with the Wild as they have won four of their last five games to improve to 10-6-1 this season.
Luongo has been nothing short of stellar this month for the Canucks playing 242 minutes and 36 seconds of shutout hockey, and posting a near perfect save percentage in that time. The Canucks will now embark on a four-game road trip on the East coast where they will collide with former captain Markus Naslund at MSG on Wednesday night.
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