Snow Job! Canucks Stop Caps

Garth Snow put a stop to the Washington Capitals' domination over the Vancouver Canucks.

Snow made 34 saves and Adrian Aucoin had a goal and an assist to help Vancouver gain a 2-1 victory over Washington on Wednesday night, the Canucks' first victory over the Capitals in nearly six years.

Vancouver had gone 0-7-1 against Washington since beating the Capitals on Oct. 28, 1992. Washington outscored the Canucks 34-14 during that stretch. Vancouver also hadn't scored a road victory against the Capitals since March 17, 1990.

"It's a big win for us (against) the defending Eastern Conference champions," Snow said. "I felt good, I wasn't too happy about the goal I let in. But I was glad I contributed at the end."

Snow came up with a number of big saves in the final two periods as Washington continually pressured Vancouver. Washington also finished 0-for-6 on power plays, managing just eight shots on the extra-man situations.

The Vancouver defense held firm throughout, blocking 26 shots, and Snow repeatedly turned away the Capitals.

"Garth was fabulous tonight," Vancouver coach Mike Keenan said. "He's given us excellent goaltending at the beginning of the season."

Aucoin scored the Canucks' first goal in the first period and assisted Bill Muckalt on the other. The Capitals had a number of scoring chances but couldn't catch up.

"We played unbelievable when we applied pressure," Washington coach Ron Wilson said. "But when you dig a hole like we ug you can't expect to win all the time."

Kelly Miller played in his 1,000th NHL game for Washington, a franchise-record 883 with the Capitals. He also got an assist on the team's only goal.

The Capitals appeared to take a 1-0 lead with 5:35 left in the first period when Chris Simon tapped in a loose puck that trickled between Snow's legs following a Joe Juneau shot. The officials, however, said the whistle had blown and disallowed the goal.

Vancouver broke the scoreless tie later in the period when Aucoin scored a power-play with 2:48 left. Alexander Mogilny collared a loose puck and sent it to Aucoin, whose shot from the point beat Olaf Kolzig.

Mark Messier also had an assist on the play. Messier needs one more goal to reach 600 for his career.

The Canucks took a 2-0 lead 8:56 into the second period when Muckalt slipped a shot past Olaf Kolzig from in front.

Markus Naslund fed the puck to Muckalt near the blue line, and the Vancouver center swept past Washington defenseman Calle Johansson to score from just outside the crease. Aucoin also had an assist.

Washington's Craig Berube cut the lead to 2-1 when he put a wrist shot past Snow with 8:27 left in the period. Juneau set up the goal by finding a wide-open Berube with a perfect pass from behind the net.

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