BROWNNOSE
BOOTLICKER
WASHINGTON – Roberto Luongo made 25 saves to stretch his regulation unbeaten streak to a career-high 12 games, and Christian Ehrhoff broke a second-period tie with a power-play goal in the Vancouver Canucks' 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Friday night.
Daniel Sedin scored his 26th and 27th goals of the season and Ehrhoff and Alexander Edler each had a goal and an assist. NHL-leading Vancouver was coming off a 1-0 road loss to the New York Rangers on Thursday night, its first loss in regulation since Dec. 5 at home against St. Louis.
Ehrhoff converted a slap shot from the left circle 3:46 into the second period to give Vancouver a 2-1 lead. The Canucks won for the 10th time in 12 games and are 8-1-2 in their last 11 against Washington.
Matt Hendricks and Marcus Johansson scored for Washington. The Capitals have lost three straight.
Luongo, rested Thursday night in New York, made a nice right-post save to deny Washington's Nicklas Backstrom barely 3 minutes into the game, and the Capitals grabbed the lead 5:50 into the first period on Hendricks' goal. Karl Alzner's feed sprung Hendricks down the slot, and Hendricks got a half-stride on Edler before flicking a shot past Luongo's glove.
Edler countered at 8:15, tying it on a one-timer through traffic from the left point.
With Washington's Jason Chimera in the penalty box for roughing, Ehrhoff scored on a slapper from the left circle that went through goalie Semyon Varlamov's legs.
Sedin made it 3-1 with 4:01 left in the second. Jannik Hansen poked the puck away from Chimera in the neutral zone and launched Sedin on a breakaway.
One of Vancouver's few defensive breakdowns led to Johansson's goal 2ith 10:39 remaining in regulation. Johansson, left alone in the right circle, whacked a cross-ice pass from Backstrom past Luongo.
Sedin scored an empty-netter in the final minute.
NOTES: Hansen had two assists. ... Canucks D Aaron Rome sprained a knee in the first period and didn't return. ... The Canucks are 9-3-2 against the Eastern Conference. ... Capitals RW Alexander Semin (thigh) missed his third straight game and D Tom Poti (lower body) also was scratched. ... Earlier Friday, Washington sent D Tyler Sloan to Hershey of the AHL for a conditioning assignment.
(This version CORRECTS Canucks 4, Capitals 2. Corrects Luongo's saves to 25.)
Daniel Sedin scored his 26th and 27th goals of the season and Ehrhoff and Alexander Edler each had a goal and an assist. NHL-leading Vancouver was coming off a 1-0 road loss to the New York Rangers on Thursday night, its first loss in regulation since Dec. 5 at home against St. Louis.
Ehrhoff converted a slap shot from the left circle 3:46 into the second period to give Vancouver a 2-1 lead. The Canucks won for the 10th time in 12 games and are 8-1-2 in their last 11 against Washington.
Matt Hendricks and Marcus Johansson scored for Washington. The Capitals have lost three straight.
Luongo, rested Thursday night in New York, made a nice right-post save to deny Washington's Nicklas Backstrom barely 3 minutes into the game, and the Capitals grabbed the lead 5:50 into the first period on Hendricks' goal. Karl Alzner's feed sprung Hendricks down the slot, and Hendricks got a half-stride on Edler before flicking a shot past Luongo's glove.
Edler countered at 8:15, tying it on a one-timer through traffic from the left point.
With Washington's Jason Chimera in the penalty box for roughing, Ehrhoff scored on a slapper from the left circle that went through goalie Semyon Varlamov's legs.
Sedin made it 3-1 with 4:01 left in the second. Jannik Hansen poked the puck away from Chimera in the neutral zone and launched Sedin on a breakaway.
One of Vancouver's few defensive breakdowns led to Johansson's goal 2ith 10:39 remaining in regulation. Johansson, left alone in the right circle, whacked a cross-ice pass from Backstrom past Luongo.
Sedin scored an empty-netter in the final minute.
NOTES: Hansen had two assists. ... Canucks D Aaron Rome sprained a knee in the first period and didn't return. ... The Canucks are 9-3-2 against the Eastern Conference. ... Capitals RW Alexander Semin (thigh) missed his third straight game and D Tom Poti (lower body) also was scratched. ... Earlier Friday, Washington sent D Tyler Sloan to Hershey of the AHL for a conditioning assignment.
(This version CORRECTS Canucks 4, Capitals 2. Corrects Luongo's saves to 25.)
