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BOX SCORE
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- For Henrik Sedin, the only
thing better than scoring his first NHL goal was doing it in a key
situation.
|  | | Mats Sundin couldn't get this shot past Canucks goalie Bob Essensa. |
The 20-year-old rookie did exactly that Monday night when he
secured Vancouver's 5-2 win over Toronto by tipping home an Ed
Jovanovski point shot with 1:57 remaining.
Sedin's score made it 4-2 just 24 seconds after the Maple Leafs
had pulled within one on a power-play goal by Igor Korolev.
"It felt pretty good, especially because it was such an
important goal," said Sedin, who also set up twin brother Daniel's
second goal of the season late in the first period. "We're trying
to learn something every game and we are starting to feel more
comfortable every game."
Markus Naslund rounded out the scoring with his second of the
game into an empty net at 18:53.
The Maple Leafs rallied twice from two-goal deficits to pull
within a goal. Both times, the Canucks (4-2-0) answered with a goal
from the Sedin twins.
Henrik set up Daniel with a nice pass from behind the net.
Daniel's quick wrist shot beat Joseph between the legs and gave him
a point in each of his last four games.
"The Sedins were really good with the puck tonight," Canucks
coach Marc Crawford said. "That's due to the fact they look
comfortable on the ice and they looked that way from the start of
the game tonight."
Naslund started a three-goal first period with his fourth score
just 3:51 into the game. Brendan Morrison, with his second goal in
as many games, scored at 7:23 to make it 2-0.
Dimitri Khristich pulled the Leafs within one with a power play
goal at 10:47 before Daniel Sedin's goal restored the two-goal
cushion.
The Maple Leafs were outshot 29-15 by Vancouver and failed to
record a shot on goal in the first 10 minutes of each of the first
two periods. Toronto (2-3-0) has scored just eight goals in five
games.
"We're missing some very simple plays," Toronto coach Pat
Quinn said. "We haven't created any offense since the start of the
season. Our puck movement and our positioning is not very good
right now."
After a scoreless second period, Toronto pulled within a goal with
2:21 left in the third after Igor Korolev batted a loose puck past
goalie Bob Essensa on the power play.
The Maple Leafs had other chances in the third period, but two
apparent goals were nullified. The first was called back because
the referee blew his whistle before the puck crossed the goal line.
The second, which replays showed hitting both posts but not
crossing the line, was called back because Shayne Corson interfered
with Essensa.
Essensa, signed in the offseason to back up starter Felix
Potvin, stopped 13 shots to improve to 3-0.
Game notes
Toronto center Alyn McCauley missed his second straight
game with a wrist injury but is expected to be ready for the Maple
Leafs' next game, Thursday in Edmonton. ... Five of Toronto's eight
goals this season have come on the power play. ... Khristich's goal
in the first period was his first point in four games this season.
... The Canucks assigned center Artem Chubarov to Kansas City of
the IHL before the game. Coach Marc Crawford said the decision was
made to get Chubarov more playing time. ... Vancouver defenseman
Jason Strudwick, starting for the second straight game after
sitting out the previous three, wore an 'A' as an alternate captain
and assisted on Daniel Sedin's first-period goal.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Toronto Clubhouse
Vancouver Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Markus Naslund deflects a shot past Curtis Joseph for a Canuck goal.
avi: 699 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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