Canucks Snap Panthers' Win Streak With Overtime Goal
VANCOUVER (CBSMiami) - Staying calm and refusing to quit is allowed the Vancouver Canucks to snap the Florida Panthers' franchise-record, 12-game winning streak.
Left winger Daniel Sedin scored his second goal of the game on an overtime power play which allowed the Canucks to post a 3-2 win over the cats.
Vancouver needed a goal from right winger Jake Virtanen with 2:38 left in the third period to tie the score and force overtime. The Canucks scored with 2:50 left in regulation Saturday night before losing in overtime to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"I don't think we panic in games," said Daniel Sedin, who collected his 346th career goal, tying him with Markus Naslund as Vancouver's all-time goal-scoring leader.
"We are sticking to our game plan. Tonight in the third, it would have been easy to cheat, give up chances. We are finding ways to get points, and it's huge."
Center Henrik Sedin had two assists for the Canucks, who cling to third place in the Pacific, two points ahead of the San Jose Sharks.
The Canucks (17-16-10) went on the power play when Florida right winger Jaromir Jagr was called for hooking at 2:07 of overtime. Just 14 seconds later, Daniel Sedin fired a shot from the point that beat goaltender Roberto Luongo, who was being screened by Henrik Sedin.
"We try that in practice a few times," Daniel Sedin said. "It was nice to see it go in."
Luongo, who spent eight seasons as a Canuck, didn't see the puck.
"I guess it was a set play," said Luongo, who stopped 27 shots. "Danny was rolling over the top, and they had another guy in front.
"As I moved my head to try and find it, he shot it. It went bar and in. Those things happen."
Left wingers Jussi Jokinen and Jonathan Huberdeau scored for the Atlantic Division-leading Panthers (26-12-5). It was a frustrating end to their winning streak.
"We've been playing close games a little bit too much instead of taking leads," Huberdeau said. "That kind of caught up to us.
"It kind of sucks the streak is done, but at least we got a point and are ready for the next game."
Florida coach Gerard Gallant left immediately after the game to attend his mother's funeral. Assistant John Madden will act as coach in the Panthers' next game.
Tempers flared after the winning goal. The Canucks said one of the Panthers made a remark to the Sedins, which resulted in pushing and shoving at the benches.
"It's just one individual that made the comment," Canucks right winger Derek Dorsett said. "They have a lot of veterans guys that have been around long enough that won't make comments like that.
"It was emotional when everyone gets involved like that."
Luongo saw things differently.
"One of their guys came over to our bench and tried to punch one of our guys," he said. "You have 60 minutes to fight anybody on our team that's willing and able, but he wants to do it after the game. That's it."
Virtanen forced the overtime after center Bo Horvat won a faceoff in the Panthers' end. The puck went back to Virtanen, who beat Luongo high on the glove side.
"It was a bit of a relief for me," said Virtanen, who has faced criticism for his play as a member of Team Canada at the recent World Junior Championships.
"With the stuff that has gone on in the last week and half, it's nice to get that one in for sure."
Daniel Sedin said tying Naslund for the Canucks' goal-scoring lead is an honor. The Sedin twins grew up in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, the same town as the former Canuck captain.
Naslund helped mentor the Sedins when they first joined the Canucks.
"He was an idol growing up," Daniel Sedin said. "He meant so much to us when we came into this league.
"He's a better goal-scorer than me. He will always be the No. 1 for me in the goal department."
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