[HelloHockeyFans]

CANUCKS CLIP ISLES


Richard Jackman looks at the puck off Martin Rucinsky's stick which found
its way past a stunned Tomas Vokoun Sunday afternoon.

UNIONDALE, NY - Jeff Halpern was named the game's first star assisting on two of the three Vancouver goals as the Canucks went into Long Island and defeated the Islanders by a score of 3-2.

The first period started quickly as both teams combined for 26 shots in total with Scott Mellanby (20) and Marcus Nilson (19) scoring for the Canucks while Derek Roy (5) answered for the Isles on the powerplay.

The teams traded goals in the second with Jiri Hudler tipping in a Keith Ballard point shot at 2:11 to tie the game, but Martin Rucinsky's knuckler from the slot found its way past Tomas Vokoun after ricocheting off a few bodies in front to put Vancouver up by one.

The final period saw no scoring as both teams traded few chances and played out the final 20 minutes seemingly more concerned with limiting the number of chances they might give up.

The Isles will get the next two nights off before they visit the Canucks at GM Place for a rematch on Wednesday night.