Highlight reel: Canucks 3 / Jets 2

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This article was published 09/03/2012 (5265 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

AT ROGERS ARENA

Big picture

The Jets started the night in ninth place after the Washington Capitals won in overtime to get to 72 points with 33 wins and the edge in the tiebreaker were the season to end at that point. The Jets then got within six minutes of moving back into eighth but couldn’t contain the dangerous Canucks, who pushed the pace much of the evening.

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Winnipeg had the lead early in the third period after Blake Wheeler’s 16th goal of the season but Alex Edler and then Sami Pahlsson scored to send the Canucks to their first win in three starts. Pahlsson’s shot from the high slot came after two drop passes on a four-on-three rush and Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec couldn’t handle the high, hard shot. The Jets pressed hard themselves for the final few minutes but couldn’t find the goal they needed to get it to overtime.

Game-breaker

Tanner Glass barely missed the rebound on a Jets two-on-one and when the Canucks turned the puck to the other end of the ice, Pahlsson put the home team ahead for good with just 5:43 left in regulation time.

Free Press ★★★

★ Ryan Kesler, centre, Canucks. Power game, was hard to handle on Thursday.

 ★★ Ondrej Pavelec, Jets. Held his team in the game against a tough opponent for 54-plus minutes.

 ★★★ Chris Higgins, left-winger, Canucks. One assist, but was a thorn in the Jets’ side all night.

 — Campbell

SUMMARY

First Period

No Scoring.

Penalty — Clitsome Wpg (high-sticking) 8:52.

Second Period

1. Vancouver, Kesler 20, 1:44 (sh)

2. Winnipeg, Wellwood 15 (Kane) 15:22

Penalties — Edler Vcr (tripping) 0:37, Gragnani Vcr (tripping) 6:08, Kesler Vcr (slashing) 9:52.

Third Period

3. Winnipeg, Wheeler 16 (Ladd) 3:34

4. Vancouver, Edler 10 (Salo, Higgins) 6:28

5. Vancouver, Pahlsson 3 (Bieksa, Hansen) 14:17

Penalties — None.

Shots on goal by

Winnipeg11911–32

Vancouver201213–45

Goal — Winnipeg: Pavelec (L,25-22-7); Vancouver: Schneider (W,15-6-1).

Power plays (goals-chances) — Winnipeg: 0-3; Vancouver: 0-1.

Referees — Tom Kowal, Dave Jackson. Linesmen — Lonnie Cameron, Greg Devorski.

Attendance — 18,860 (18,860).