Vancouver Canucks - Recap: Vancouver @ NY Rangers - 11/19/2008
Canucks 6, Rangers 3
PIC OF THE GAME
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NEW YORK (AP) -
Roberto Luongo came out on top in his busiest night of the season, yet the goalie duel everyone expected against Henrik Lundqvist never materialized.
Alex Burrows scored two of Vancouver's five goals against Lundqvist, and the Canucks feasted on turnovers Wednesday night in a 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers.
The matchup of Vezina Trophy favorites Lundqvist and Luongo fizzled as the New York netminder was gone 5:33 into the second period. He allowed five goals on 17 shots.
"You never know in this game," said Luongo, who made a season-high 39 saves. "Things happen."
Vancouver's first four goals resulted from Rangers turnovers, and the last was scored while the Canucks were on a two-man advantage.
Kyle Wellwood scored a breakaway 4:16 in and Burrows followed with another - while the Canucks were short-handed - to make it 2-0 at 9:38. A pass to Rangers defenseman Wade Redden bounced over his stick, creating the chance.
"The turning point in the game," said Rangers coach Tom Renney, who held a 10-minute postgame closed-door meeting. "I'm not going to suggest we were doing everything right at that point, but that was kind of the turning point and unfortunately it was really early."
The barrage got worse in the second period. Burrows took advantage of yet another Rangers giveaway and netted his sixth goal 1:23 in.
Ryan Johnson pushed the lead to 4-0 58 seconds later.
Three Rangers penalties followed, giving the Canucks a pair of lengthy 5-on-3 advantages.
"That's our goal. Get on the forecheck and pressure their D men," Burrows said.
Vancouver appeared to score again, but Rangers defenseman Michal Rozsival swept the puck off the goal line just before it fully crossed. New York got a reprieve after the long video review, but the good fortune didn't last as the Canucks made it 5-1 just 20 seconds later at 5:33 when
Pavol Demitra ripped in his fourth of the season and second in two games.
Lundqvist skated right to the bench after Renney summoned him with his finger. He was replaced by Steve Valiquette, who stopped all 15 shots he faced. Lundqvist, who started for the 14th time in 15 games, had gone 12 without allowing more than two goals.