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Daniel Sedin sparks comeback for Canucks

Oct 7, 2006 - 2:32 AM COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- Daniel Sedin waited for the final moments of the game to put a damper on the Columbus Blue Jackets' season opener.

Sedin scored the tying goal in the third period and the winner 31 seconds into overtime to lead the Vancouver Canucks to a 3-2 victory over the Blue Jackets.

Making his first start as Columbus' No. 1 goaltender, Pascal Leclaire was brilliant for 2 1/2 periods. The 23-year-old stopped the first 35 shots he faced before Morrison ended his bid for his first career shutout with 9:12 remaining in the third period.

"We came out strong in the first period and early in the second," said Leclaire, the eighth overall pick in 2001. "They kept pressuring us and we kind of got off our game a little bit.

"At first, we were chipping pucks and getting it in deep, and when you get in a run-and-gun game with these guys, you are going to get into trouble. We played well except for that last 10 minutes."

Sedin forged a 2-2 tie with 2:11 to go, then gave the Canucks their second win in as many nights early in the extra session off a feed from twin brother Henrik.

Leclaire denied Henrik Sedin on a wraparound attempt, but the puck glided to Daniel Sedin, who fired it past the netminder from just above the crease to seal the win.

"It was a great play by (Henrik)," Daniel Sedin said. "I had an open net. It's not that hard."

"It looks like (Daniel Sedin) is going to be a net presence," Canucks captain Markus Naslund said. "If he is in the right spot, he is going to get a lot of pucks to work with."

Roberto Luongo remained unbeaten in his first season with Vancouver. Acquired from Florida in a blockbuster trade over the summer, the 2004 Vezina Trophy finalist made 18 saves, including four in the third period.

"We came on strong in the second (period)," Luongo said. "We took the momentum there and pretty much kept it for the rest of the game."

The Blue Jackets got on the board less than two minutes into the game as Mark Hartigan tallied on the power play at 1:46. David Vyborny doubled the lead with 2:47 left in the second period, cashing in during a 5-on-3 advantage.

"Overall, our special teams played well tonight," Hartigan said. "Our power play did well tonight and our penalty kill was decent."

Henrik Sedin collected two assists for Vancouver, which won three of the four meetings with Columbus last season.

With Columbus closing in on its second season-opening win at home, Daniel Sedin dashed its hopes. Naslund completed a cross-crease pass to his fellow Swede, who tapped the puck past Leclaire to knot the contest.