Eurolanche

Canucks continue dominance of Avs

A familiar look produced a familiar result when the Vancouver Canucks' reunited top line led them to another win over the Colorado Avalanche.

Moved back to the No. 1 unit after a couple of games on the third line, Alexandre Burrows scored the opening goal early and set up Daniel Sedin's game-winner with 8:28 left to lead Vancouver to a 4-1 victory.

Henrik Sedin and Chris Higgins added empty-net goals, and the Canucks improved to 18-0-2 against the Avalanche over the past three-and-a-half years.

Colorado's Matt Duchene tied it 4:02 into the third period, but the top line put the Canucks back in front off an offensive-zone faceoff that went to

Dan Hamhuis at the point. His pass down to Burrows in the left corner was quickly sent back into the high slot to Daniel Sedin, whose quick wrist shot through twin brother Henrik's screen beat Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov between the legs.

Vancouver's Cory Schneider made 30 saves; he has allowed six goals while winning six straight to put the Canucks two points ahead of the Minnesota Wild atop the Northwest Division.

Varlamov finished with 16 saves for the Avalanche, who have lost four straight, eight of nine, and are 2-12-3 on the road this season.

Burrows opened the scoring after some pretty passing from the Sedins. A point shot from Hamhuis was blocked in the high slot, but bounced to Daniel. He spun into a blind backhand pass across the ice to Henrik, who one-touched it back the other way, stranding Varlamov and leaving Burrows with an empty net.

It was the second goal in seven games for Burrows and snapped a skid that saw the Sedins record one assist combined in the past four games.

Upset after falling behind 2-0 and being dominated in the first period of a 4-3 loss to the Calgary Flames the night before, the Avalanche were down 1-0 on the scoreboard and 8-1 on the shot clock nine minutes into the game.

Things changed after a Burrows holding penalty.

Colorado recorded the final 10 shots of the period, and if not for a handful of point-blank saves by Schneider, the Avalanche would have been ahead after 20 minutes.

Instead it took until the third period for the Avalanche to get even. PA Parenteau won a battle with two Canucks behind the net and centered to Duchene in the slot for a one-timer that went in off Schneider's left shoulder.

Duchene, who was highly critical of his team's start in Calgary, pumped his fists aggressively as he celebrated his first goal in seven games.

Colorado had a great chance to defeat Vancouver in regulation for the first time in a long time on the power play a few minutes later. But Schneider turned aside Erik Johnson alone in the slot, and Daniel Sedin restored the lead two minutes later, giving the Canucks 10 straight wins over the Avalanche.

-- by Nhl.com --