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Bernier lifts Canucks over Lightning with late goal

Feb 28, 2009 - 8:41 AM VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) -- The Vancouver Canucks have not missed a beat since suffering a skid that lingered throughout all of January.

Steve Bernier snapped a tie at 9:26 of the third period, leading the Canucks to a 2-1 triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday.

Alexander Edler also tallied and All-Star Roberto Luongo made 20 saves for Vancouver, which successfully opened a four-game homestand.

"Obviously we're happy that we won this game," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said. "We have traveled a lot lately and some nights are going to be harder than others. This was obviously one of them.

"We battled through and found a way to get two very important points for us. They say never critique a win, I'm sure this is one of those times. That's the way it is."

Rookie Steven Stamkos netted the lone goal for the Lightning, who have dropped six of their last seven overall and are 3-9-2 over their last 14 contests.

"We played hard," Tampa Bay coach Rick Tocchet said. "I think the guys played hard tonight. It's just one of those whoever's going to get that lucky goal will win the game."

The Canucks have won nine of 11 since dropping a season-high eight straight from January 9-31. Their recent run has them sitting in fifth place in the crowded Western Conference.

After losing five straight starts in the wake of returning from a groin injury that kept him sidelined for over seven weeks, Luongo has gone 9-1-0.

"I felt pretty good tonight," Luongo said. "I think as a team we weren't where we wanted to be after 40 minutes but we came out and had a good third period and we found a way to win."

Luongo received early support in this one, as Edler beat Karri Ramo with a wrist shot from the slot on the power play with 8:19 remaining in the first period.

"There's going to be some games like this in an 82-game schedule, especially coming back from eight games in eight different cities," Vigneault said. "I'm not using that as an excuse. It's just the facts. Sometimes you keep plugging away and plug away enough to win the game. That's really all I've got to say about this one."

However, Stamkos forged a tie with 5:24 left in the second by taking a pass from All-Star Martin St. Louis and lifting backhander into the vacant net while stationed on the doorstep.

"I thought we had some chances tonight but overall as a team we didn't have our best game," Canucks veteran Mats Sundin said. "We'll have to be better next game."

Bernier secured the victory with a wrister from the left side of the crease for his 13th tally of the season.

Ramo finished with 23 saves for Tampa Bay, which fell to 0-2-0 on its three-game trek through Western Canada.

"He played well," Tocchet said. "He played really well. I think both goalies were the stars of the game. They made the saves when they had to. I don't think either of the coaches are going to be upset with the goaltending."