Music: {allcanada} Lack leads Canucks' shutout against Penguins

Thursday, December 4, 2014

{allcanada} Lack leads Canucks' shutout against Penguins

Elvis' Christmas Album - Elvis Presley

PITTSBURGH -- Eddie Lack didn't show signs of rust in his first start since Nov. 20, leading the Vancouver Canucks to a 3-0 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center on Thursday.

Lack stopped 21 shots for his first shutout in eight starts this season.

The Canucks defense took pressure off of Lack by smothering the Penguins forwards and allowing eight or fewer Pittsburgh shots each period.

Penguins goalie Thomas Greiss, who made his first home start of the season, allowed three goals on 31 shots and dropped to 3-2-1 this season.

Vancouver (18-7-1), which improved to 11-4-0 on the road, dominated the second period, while rarely allowing the puck to exit the Pittsburgh zone. The Canucks had two second-period goals that built on a 1-0 lead following the first period.

Brad Richardson forced Penguins defenseman Simon Despres to turn the puck over behind the Pittsburgh net, leading to the first goal. Richardson gained possession and shuffled a pass out front to Shawn Matthias, who wristed a shot past Greiss to give the Canucks a 2-0 lead with 8:26 remaining in the period.

Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist exited the game prior to the goal after he was hit by Ryan Stanton near the Vancouver blue line. Hornqvist did not return with an apparent upper-body injury and was replaced by Steve Downie on Pittsburgh's top line alongside center Sidney Crosby and left wing Nick Spaling.

The Penguins (17-6-2) didn't record a second-period shot until Paul Martin's wrist shot with 8:01 remaining and surrendered a shorthanded goal to extend the Canucks lead to 3-0.

Forward Jannik Hansen pressured Greiss behind the net when he attempted to play the puck. Greiss tried to pass the puck along the boards, but Hansen knocked his stick out of his hands. The puck settled after bouncing off of the boards, and Greiss could not keep Hansen from centering a pass to Richardson, who poked the puck into the empty net with 6:06 left in the period.

Richardson finished two goals and three points.

Matthias stripped Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta of the puck behind the net before backhanding a pass to Richardson in front of the crease. Richardson had little space to shoot, but threaded a snap shot between the left post and Greiss' blocker 8:33 into the first period.

Crosby had an opportunity to tie the game with Alexander Edler in the penalty box. Hornqvist slapped a shot that ricocheted off of Lack and to Crosby at the right of the net. The net was vacant, but Crosby's shot went through the crease and off of the left post.

Canucks defenseman Luca Sbisa and Richardson each failed to get a shot behind Greiss within the second period's final six seconds.

When My Heart Finds Christmas - Harry Connick, Jr.