Canucks-Hurricanes: Vancouver Snaps Losing Streak, Moves Into Playoff Spot

For the first time in seemingly an eternity, the Canucks found a way to win a hockey game. 

Forget that they gave up a 2-0 lead and surrendered two power-play goals, all that matters us they won a game at last. 

When all hope look lost the Canucks got an unexpected boost when Alex Burrows scored shorthanded with less than 90 seconds remaining to help the Canucks win 4-3 over the Hurricanes.

The win snaps an awful losing streak that lasted eight games dating back to January 7 and a home losing streak that lasted nine games dating back to December 28 of last year. 

Vigneault juggled the lines, putting Demitra alongside Ryan Kessler and Mats Sundin.  It seemed to work as Kessler was dynamite with a goal and two helpers while Sundin had his best game as a Canucks with a goal and an assist earning him the first star. 

The win did not come easy, as the Canucks followed an all-too-familiar script but with a much better ending. 

Vancouver got out of the gate quickly going ahead 2-0 on goals from Bieksa and Kessler but once again got sloppy in the second, giving up two goals in 25 seconds from Corvo and Pitkanen to even the score.  Sundin then scored on a fantastic individual efforrt as he got his own rebound and scored on a beautiful wrap-around. 

The lead was short-lived, as early in the third Eric Staal tied it on the power play. 

It looked like another one of those nights, but the Canucks caught a break in the third when Brandon Sutter had a goal disallowed for goaltender interference.  They were unlucky to regain the lead shortly after that as Wellwood jammed home a loose puck but the ref blew the whistle before he put it in. 

Matias Ohlund put the Canucks in a huge hole late with a hooking penalty in the last couple minutes of the contest and it looked like it was gonna be curtains for Vancouver. 

To their credit, though, Vancouver dug in and a wonderful play by Kessler sprang Burrows all alone and he made no mistake burying his breakaway top shelf on the backhand to win the game. 

The win was critical, as the Oilers and Blue Jackets both came away with no points on the night, which allowed Vancouver to gain more ground in the West and move back into a playoff position.  The Canucks will now take some much needed days off as they do not play again until Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Hopefully this was the spark they needed to get out of this funk and turn this thing around.  A hard-fought win finally for the Canucks as they wrap up their road trip Saturday before embarking on a three-game road trip—one that it seems cannot come soon enough.