Music: {allcanada} Kesler scores twice to lead Canucks past Hurricanes

Sunday, December 1, 2013

{allcanada} Kesler scores twice to lead Canucks past Hurricanes

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Ryan Kesler scored twice and the Vancouver Canucks killed off 11:33 in penalties in a 3-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.

Tom Sestito also scored and Jason Garrison added two assists. Goaltender Eddie Lack stopped 29 shots for his third win of the season.

With the Canucks leading 2-0 after one period, the Hurricanes tied the game less than one minute into the second. Jordan Staal jammed home a loose puck in the crease at 39 seconds and Nathan Gerbe beat Lack with a short-side goal 10 seconds later.

But Vancouver answered at 1:16 on Kesler's second goal. Chris Higgins played the puck behind the goal and shoveled it in front before Kesler scored at the top of the crease.

The Hurricanes then tested Vancouver's league-leading penalty-killing unit. Daniel Sedin's four-minute high-sticking penalty combined with Brad Richardson's unsportsmanlike conduct minor resulted in 5:33 of consecutive power-play time for Carolina, including 27 seconds of 5-on-3. But the Canucks limited Carolina to five shots and cleared the defensive zone 13 times to preserve the one-goal lead.

The Canucks started the scoring at 3:24 of the first period, capitalizing on a two-man advantage. Kesler struck 10 seconds into the power play with his 11th of the season, taking a pass from Garrison in the slot to beat goaltender Cam Ward. Hurricanes defenseman Mike Komisarek had put the Hurricanes down two skaters when his clearing pass sailed over the glass behind the Vancouver goal.

The Canucks extended the lead to 2-0 when Sesitito redirected Garrison's shot from the point at 15:48. Former Carolina forward Zac Dalpe picked up his first point with Vancouver, earning the second assist.

Canucks defenseman Jannik Hansen left the game midway through the first period after tumbling hard into the boards. Hansen left the ice holding his right shoulder, but he returned to the game in the second.

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