Recap: Minnesota vs. Vancouver

Published online on Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009

St. Paul, MN (Sports Network) - Alex Burrows recorded a goal and assist to lead Vancouver past Minnesota, 5-2, at Xcel Energy Center.

Darcy Hordichuk, Henrik Sedin, Mason Raymond and Matt Pettinger also scored for the Canucks, who have reeled off four wins in their last five games.

Andrew Raycroft got the win with a 28-save performance.

"It's good to start a road trip, you look at the lineup we have some big names out, but it seems like we're pulling together," noted Hordichuk. "We're getting great goaltending, guys are stepping up so it's no surprise we're having the success we're having."

Kyle Brodziak tallied twice for the Wild, whose two-game win streak was halted.

Starter Niklas Backstrom allowed four goals on just 17 shots through two periods for the loss. Josh Harding stopped all four shots he faced in the third period.

Hordichuk's first of the season less than four minutes in staked the Canucks to the early lead, and Raymond's power-play score at 2:20 of the second doubled the advantage.

"That first period was unbelievable, how bad we played. We just weren't skating and looked like we weren't ready to battle," said Brodziak. "You can tell the difference by midway through the second period, but it's putting together a full 60 minutes that is crucial."

Brodziak put the Wild on the board at 4:28, but Sedin's short-handed score at 12:14 opened up a 3-1 edge for the visitors.

Brodziak tallied 33 seconds later to bring the Wild back within one but Pettinger's shot from a severe angle along the goal line caught Backstrom off guard for a 4-2 game a little more than two minutes later.

Despite being outshot 15-5 over the final 20 minutes, Raycroft made the lead hold up until Burrows put the clincher into an empty net with 1:41 to play.

Game Notes