Canucks Hand Wings First Loss of the Season

One night after the Detroit Red Wings scored five power play goals in nine chances, they were unable to score with the man-advantage on six chances and lost to the Vancouver Canucks, 4-2.

Mikael Samuelsson scored his fourth goal in as many games to open the scoring just 3:50 into the first period. The puck had bounced onto the back of the net when Samuelsson picked it up and banked it into the net off the skate of Vancouver goalie Alexander Auld, who had moved over to protect the far goalpost.

Matt Cooke tied the game at 7:04 of the second period, stealing the puck from Dan Cleary at the Canucks’ blue line and breaking in all alone on Red Wings netminder Manny Legace. Cooke got close to the net and switched to his backhand to roof the puck over Legace’s left pad and tie the game.

The Canucks took their first lead of the game with 1:56 remaining in the period on a delayed penalty call. Mattias Ohlund got the puck at the right point and sent a cross-ice pass to Henrik Sedin at the left side of the crease. Sedin put the puck high and into the net and the Red Wings were down heading into the third period for the first time this season.

Detroit tied the game again on a goal by Tomas Holmstrom 3:25 into the period. Cleary knocked the puck to the front of the net and Holmstrom forced it between Auld’s pads.

The Canucks retook the lead for good on a goal by Anson Carter. With 8:14 left in the game, Carter was left untouched at the top of the crease to send a Henrik Sedin pass from behind the goal into the net.

Richard Park added an empty-net goal in the final seconds.

Legace ended the game with 25 saves on 28 shots while Auld, making his first start of the season, stopped 28 of 30 shots.

The Red Wings return to action in Los Angeles on Thursday, when captain Steve Yzerman is expected to play his first game of the season.