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Cowan's goal in double OT evens series for Canucks

Apr 28, 2007 - 8:18 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Marathons apparently are right up the Vancouver Canucks' alley.

Jeff Cowan scored a seeing-eye goal at 7:49 of the second overtime, lifting the Canucks to a 2-1 triumph over the Anaheim Ducks in Game Two of their Western Conference semifinal series.

Markus Naslund also tallied and Roberto Luongo made 43 saves for Vancouver, which hosts Game Three on Sunday with the series even at one game apiece.

"There was a lot of talk that we were overmatched, they were a much better team than we were," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said. "It seemed like after the first game, the series was already over with. All we wanted to do was put a good, solid game on the ice, and that's what we did."

"We've got to go in there and sneak one, maybe two," Anaheim rookie Dustin Penner said. "It will be tough. I know what it's like going into a Canadian building during the playoffs."

After posting a league-best 17-7 record in games that went beyond regulation during the regular season, the Canucks won two of the three overtime contests in their conference quarterfinal series against the Dallas Stars. Vancouver played an extra 92 minutes, 15 seconds during that series, including a four-overtime opener in which it needed 78:06 of overtime to emerge victorious.

Friday's contest fell well short of that mark but still went 27:49 of bonus time before the Canucks walked off with the win.

"It's huge to be tied 1-1 right now instead of (being down) 2-0," Cowan said.

Veteran Trevor Linden, who scored a pair of game-winning goals against Dallas, played a major role in the deciding tally in this one. After drilling Rob Niedermayer in the left corner to create a turnover, Linden delivered a nifty backhand pass to Cowan.

"I was able to get some contact on Niedermayer behind the net," Linden said. "I put the puck behind me and fired it."

"It was a great pass," Cowan said. "I think it was between his legs. I had a feeling he was going to look for me there."

From below the left faceoff circle, the 30-year-old kicked the puck to his stick and fired it on net. Positioned against the left goalpost, Jean-Sebastien Giguere was unable to prevent the puck from sneaking between the iron and his right skate for the winning tally.

"(Linden) threw it out and I just tried to get it on net as quickly as I could," Cowan said. "We got a fortunate break. We just got the puck in deep and worked them down low and got a quick shot, a bad-angle shot. That's a typical overtime goal."

"My skate was in the right place at the post," Giguere said. "My blade slipped a little bit and it found a way to go in. Sometimes it's just an ugly goal that wins in the playoffs."

It was the second career postseason goal for Cowan, who netted the Canucks' lone tally in Game One of the series.

Giguere finished with 47 saves for the Ducks, who fell to 4-1 at home this postseason.

"They did a good job and we'll move one," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said. "We played a pretty exciting type of hockey game. I don't think we were as good early, but then we started to get our game going."

After a scoreless first period, the Canucks jumped in front on an unassisted goal by Naslund. Gaining control of the puck along the right wing boards in the neutral zone, the captain kicked it up to his stick and skated across the blue line.

From the right circle, Naslund unleashed a wrist shot while falling that went just inside the left goalpost at 6:30 for his second goal of the postseason and a 1-0 lead. A three-time 40-goal scorer, Naslund has just 11 tallies in 42 career playoff games.

Vancouver's advantage lasted just 4 1/2 minutes thanks to a heads-up play by Anaheim's Travis Moen.

Teemu Selanne regained his feet after falling in the left circle during a breakaway and forced Luongo to the ice by cutting across the top of the crease. However, the "Finnish Flash" was unable to lift the puck, instead sliding it into the outstretched left arm of the goaltender.

But Moen alertly followed the play and banged in the rebound at 11:01 of the period, knotting the contest at 1-1.

"Their goal was a bad mistake that shouldn't have happened," Canucks defenseman Willie Mitchell said.

Corey Perry nearly put the Ducks ahead with 8:19 remaining, but his shot from the right circle rang off the left post after getting between Luongo's pads. Selanne had another chance to score early in the third but slid a backhander across the crease from near the left post.

"When I shot the puck, it wasn't from a perfect angle," he said. "But nine times out of 10, I'm going to put it in. It was frustrating."

"(The puck) was right on the goal line," said Mitchell, who cleared it away. "That's my job to do. Luongo makes the first save, and I grab the garbage."

Despite being snake-bitten, Selanne is confident he will convert future scoring opportunities in the series.

"I'm going to sleep well tonight, but I'd like to have a couple of chances back," Selanne said. "Goal-scoring is a magic thing. Some nights, you get good chances and can't bury one. The next night, you put a few in. If you get your chances, that's a good sign."

Anaheim was awarded a power play in the first overtime when Naslund tripped Selanne in the high slot. But Luongo turned aside both shots he faced during the two minutes, keeping the game deadlocked.

"Luongo had some big saves and we had some opportunities that were close," Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer said. "Two nights ago, they were finding the net. Tonight, they didn't. That's how it goes sometimes."