National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Vancouver 3, Calgary 2
When: 10:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 31, 2012
Where: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia
Referees: Steve Kozari, Brad Watson
Linesmen: Bryan Pancich, Mark Wheler
Attendance: 18890


CANUCKS 3, FLAMES 2 (OT): Andrew Ebbett scored at 3:58 of overtime as Vancouver edged Calgary to extend its winning streak to six games and take over first place in the Western Conference.

Maxim Lapierre and defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani tallied in regulation, captain Henrik Sedin and blue-liner Alex Edler notched two assists apiece and Roberto Luongo made 31 saves for the Canucks, who also pulled even with the New York Rangers in the race for the Presidents' Trophy.

Defenseman Sami Salo unleashed a shot from along the right-wing boards that Ebbett tipped past Henrik Karlsson from the doorstep for his fifth goal. Ebbett was playing in his first game since Jan. 7 as he missed 35 contests with a broken collarbone.

Karlsson turned aside 31 shots for the Flames, who were officially eliminated from postseason consideration after losing eight of nine overall and five straight on the road.

Vancouver struck first as Lapierre received a backhand pass from below the right faceoff circle by Sedin and whacked the puck past Karlsson from the doorstep just over five minutes into the first period.

Olli Jokinen forged a tie with a one-timer during a power play at 5:38 of the second and Mike Cammalleri beat Luongo with a blast from above the slot 51 seconds into the third for a 2-1 Calgary lead.

Gragnani evened the contest midway through the session with a slap shot from the top of the left circle. The goal was Gragnani's first in 12 contests since being acquired from Buffalo at the trade deadline.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Lapierre's goal was his second in as many contests following a 23-game drought. ... Cammalleri has recorded three goals in his last five games and has notched at least one point in six of eight contests. ... Calgary has lost 10 of 13 overall meetings with the Canucks and six of eight at Vancouver. ... The Canucks improved to 4-0-0 on their five-game homestand. ... Karlsson, who was making his sixth start, fell to 0-4-2 in just eight games this season. His last victory came on Jan. 21, 2011.

Top Game Performances
 
Calgary   Vancouver
Michael Cammalleri 1 Points Alexander Edler 2
Michael Cammalleri 1 Goals Andrew Ebbett 1
Chris Butler 1 Assists Alexander Edler 2
Olli Jokinen 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Henrik Karlsson .912 Save Percentage Roberto Luongo .939
Henrik Karlsson 31 Saves Roberto Luongo 31
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Calgary 33 2 1-2 2-2 16 28
Vancouver 34 3 0-2 1-2 6 31
Upcoming Games
  • Vancouver will play their next game at home against Anaheim. The Canucks have a W/L % of .592 after a win and .667 after a loss.
  • Calgary will play their next game at home against Vancouver. The Flames have a W/L % of .417 after a win and .455 after a loss.