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Avalanche beat Canucks for eighth straight time

Dec 8, 2008 - 5:02 AM By Dave Reed PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- The Vancouver Canucks couldn't stop the Colorado Avalanche in the shootout. As a result, the Canucks didn't end their losing streak to their Northwest Division rivals either.

Wojtek Wolski, Marek Svatos and Milan Hejduk all scored in the bonus format to lift the Avalanche to a 5-4 victory over Vancouver on Sunday.

It was defenseman Daniel Tjarnqvist's second goal of the season with 2:50 remaining in regulation that gave Colorado a chance for its fifth shootout victory in six tries.

"I didn't know how many minutes were left in the game, but I knew we needed to put some pucks on the net," Tjarnqvist said. "I was just aiming for the net."

Hejduk scored a goal and set up two others and Paul Stastny had three assists for Colorado, which has won eight straight contests against the Canucks.

Steve Bernier had two goals for Vancouver, which hasn't beaten the Avalanche since November 9, 2007.

Bernier thought he completed the hat trick with 2:29 left in overtime, but the puck went off Colorado goaltender Peter Budaj and the left post to keep the game tied.

"It hit the post," Bernier said. "Everything went so quick, I don't remember exactly what happened. It was a good opportunity. Hopefully if it happens again, I will be able to score that goal."

Wolski, who is 5-for-5 in shootouts this season, started the bonus format on a positive note for Colorado. He deked to the forehand and tucked the puck past the outstretched pad of Cory Schneider.

"It's just something I've been practicing for years and years," Wolski said. "I did it in the (Ontario Hockey League), as well, for four years. I've been lucky to come up with a couple of moves that seem to work."

Kyle Wellwood answered for the Canucks with a wrist shot to the top corner. But Svatos restored the Avalanche's advantage in the bonus format with a backhander.

After Budaj turned aside Pavol Demitra's attempt, Hejduk sealed the win in the third round with a similar move to Svatos. Hejduk made a quick move to the backhand, pulling Schneider out of position and flipped an easy goal into the net.

David Jones and Ryan Smyth also scored and Budaj made 34 saves for the Avalanche, who avoided a third straight loss.

Darcy Hordichuk and Daniel Sedin both netted a goal for the Canucks, who have lost five of their last six contests and continue to struggle with goaltender Roberto Luongo sidelined.

"I thought we played real well tonight," Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said. "In my mind, I think we played well enough to win. Sometimes in games there are some bounces, and we put two pucks in our net, which was unfortunate."