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Friday, Oct. 27 10:00pm ET
Canucks unbeaten in six games | |||||
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- Despite playing just two games against Vancouver, Dean Sylvester is earning a reputation as a Canucks killer. Sylvester scored his first goal of the season with 4:55 left in regulation to give the Atlanta Thrashers a 1-1 tie Friday night over the Canucks. "It just happens, things just keep going in against them," said Sylvester, who recorded his only career hat trick in a 6-3 Thrashers' win over Vancouver last Nov. 22, the only other time these teams have met. "We came out and worked hard tonight as a team and I just happened to get the goal that tied it for us," Sylvester said. "Things have been working out pretty well against Vancouver." Atlanta managed just two shots through the first 15 minutes of the third period before Sylvester beat Felix Potvin between the legs with an unscreened slap shot from 45 feet. "I guess that wasn't the right time to let one in," said Potvin, who is 2-3-2. "I felt like I was out and he just found a hole between my legs. I thought it was underneath me but I guess it trickled in." The Thrashers haven't lost in its last three games and moved to 1-3-4 this season. "We've played strong in all the games this year and Edmonton was a game where we finally got a victory and to come in here tonight against a team that's probably one of the best in the league -- we did an excellent job," Atlanta coach Curt Fraser said. "We demand that the work ethic be second to none on this hockey club and the guys are working their tails off right now." Henrik Sedin scored for the Canucks, who are also undefeated in three games, 4-0-2-1 in their last seven and 6-2-2-1 overall. Sedin opened the scoring 2:03 into the second period with his fourth goal. Trent Klatt fanned on his breakaway shot after stealing the puck at the Atlanta blue line, but recovered in time to throw a pass back to Sedin, who beat a scrambling Damian Rhodes on the stick side. Sedin now has points -- two goals and an assist -- in three straight games. Vancouver outshot Atlanta 25-22 in regulation but Damian Rhodes was solid in the Thrashers' net. "I don't think there was a letdown tonight," Canucks coach Marc Crawford said. "They played a pretty good game and they are a good club and I think that's an insult to them if you think that we let down. We didn't let down. We outshot them every period." Earning the point was more impressive for Atlanta considering they lost Donald Audette late in the second period with a strained left groin. Audette, who did not return and is expected to miss Saturday's game at San Jose, had his point streak snapped at seven games. He has seven goals and seven assists in that stretch. "It's tough when you lose a kid like Audette who is red hot right now and near the end of the game he could make a difference," Fraser said. "We've got to have him in the last 10 minutes. He's a guy that can make the difference." Both teams finished 0-for-6 on the power play. The Canucks started the game without their top two defensemen, Mattias Ohlund and Ed Jovanovski, and lost Adrian Aucoin late in the first period with a groin pull. Game notesThe first period was delayed for 19 minutes after Vancouver center Andrew Cassels shattered the glass behind the Atlanta net with a power-play shot from the point that was tipped over the Thrashers net. The goal judge was showered with broken glass. ... Vancouver rookie Daniel Sedin missed ten minutes of the second period after being hit in the face taking Rhodes' stick during a scrum after the whistle. Rhodes was assessed a double-minor for high sticking. Ohlund is out another three to five weeks after eye surgery last Friday and Jovanovski is expected to recover from his sore back in time for the Canucks' next game, Wednesday against Colorado. ... Forward Steve Kariya returned to the Vancouver lineup after being a healthy scratch on Wednesday. ... The top three picks in the 1999 NHL entry draft suited up in this game. Atlanta chose Patrick Stefan first overall and Vancouver selected the Sedin twins with the second and third picks. ... Atlanta left wing Tomi Kallio missed his third straight game with a strained left groin. | ALSO SEE NHL Scoreboard Atlanta Clubhouse Vancouver Clubhouse RECAPS Buffalo 2 Toronto 1
Atlanta 1
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