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Nov 20, 2008 9:59 pm US/Central
Daniel Sedin Scores Winner For Canucks Over Wild
ST. PAUL (AP) ―
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Mikko Koivu scored twice for Minnesota, which lost for the second time in six games -- both to Vancouver. (File)
Minnesota Wild
Daniel Sedin scored the winner midway through the third period in the Vancouver Canucks' 3-2 victory over the Minnesota on Thursday night.
Steve Bernier and Pavol Demitra also scored to help Vancouver beat Minnesota for the second time this season. The Canucks are 6-0-2 in their past eight games and have not lost in regulation to a division foe in six games (5-0-1).
Curtis Sanford made 28 saves for his first win since Dec. 12, 2007, a span of 13 games.
Mikko Koivu scored twice for Minnesota, which lost for the second time in six games -- both to Vancouver.
After a long shift in the Minnesota end, Sedin took a pass from Demitra, who was to the left of the goal. As Sedin was being checked, his snap shot from low in the left circle beat Niklas Backstrom on the glove side at 11:41.
The game increased Vancouver's lead over Minnesota in the Northwest Division to three points.
Koivu scored for the second straight game when his slap shot from the top of the left circle beat Sanford at 7:16 of the second period. Sanford got a piece of the shot with his glove, but the puck deflected between his arm and body into the net.
It was Sanford's second start of the season and first since Oct. 17. Roberto Luongo had started the previous 14 games.
Bernier put a rebound behind Backstrom at the 12-minute mark, but Koivu scored short-handed 2:22 later to give the Wild a 2-1 lead.
The Minnesota center was late coming out of the Vancouver end, but a clearing attempt by Kim Johnsson found Koivu alone at center. He raced in alone and beat Sanford on the stick side for Minnesota's first short-handed goal of the season. It was Koivu's first two-goal game since Nov. 13, 2007.
Demitra tied it less than 2 minutes later by banking a centering pass from behind the goal line off Backstrom for his third goal in three games.
Backstrom, who allowed six goals in Minnesota's previous five games, finished with 24 saves.
Notes: Minnesota lost for the first time in nine games that Koivu scored a point.
Demitra played his first game against his former team. Demitra, who missed the team's first meeting with a rib contusion, had 40 goals and 78 assists the last two seasons for the Wild.
The win was Alain Vigneault's 100th as Vancouver's coach (100-65-19).
Minnesota reassigned goalie Nolan Schaefer to AHL Houston. He was recalled on an emergency basis after Josh Harding missed Tuesday's pre-game skate because of a lower-body injury.
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