Burrows' first goal lifts Canucks over Maple Leafs

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Game Information

Arena: General Motors Place Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Referees: KellySutherland, BradWatson Linesmen: BradLazarowich, VaughanRody

Attendance: 18,630 (101.1% full)

Team Stat Comparison
254	Goals	252
263	Goals Against	251
107	Power Play Goals	96
99	Power Play Goals Allowed	93
14	Shorthanded Goals	6
12	Shorthanded Goals Allowed	10
1398	Penalty Minutes	1475
17	Average Penalty Minutes	18

Scoring Summary
1ST PERIOD			TOR	VAN
4:41		Chad Kilger (Shorthanded) Assists: Clarke Wilm	1	0
12:48		Jarkko Ruutu Assists: Alexandre Burrows	1	1
17:54		Alexander Khavanov Assists: Chad Kilger, Wade Belak	2	1
2ND PERIOD			TOR	VAN
10:25		Matt Cooke Assists: Ryan Kesler	2	2
16:45		Alexandre Burrows Assists: Todd Bertuzzi, Ryan Kesler	2	3
3RD PERIOD			TOR	VAN
8:18		Anson Carter (Power Play) Assists: Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin	2	4
10:51		Alexander Steen (Power Play) Assists: Tomas Kaberle, Jason Allison	3	4

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- The Vancouver Canucks got a big lift from their fourth line.

The Canucks' fourth line of Alexandre Burrows, fellow rookie Ryan Kesler and Matt Cooke drew the assignment of checking the Maple Leafs top line and not only shutdown the trio of Mats Sundin, Tie Domi and Alexander Steen, but outscored them in the process in Vancouver's 4-3 win on Tuesday night.

"We played a pretty good game defensively, our main goal was not to give up any goals against or any good scoring chances," said Burrows, who scored his first career goal. "That was our main focus in addition to getting a good forecheck going and not turning the puck over.

"It's always a plus when our third and fourth lines get goals and the bottom line tonight was a big win over the Leafs."

The Canucks trailed 2-1 after the first period, but battled back on goals by Cooke and Burrows, playing in his fifth NHL game, to take the lead heading into the third period.

"In the past that"s how we've been. I've been on lines like that in the past and most nights we've outworked the opposition and that was the key to our success tonight," Cooke said. "If we can take that top line out of the game then we are going to have a better chance at having some team success."

Vancouver goalie Alexander Auld, who picked up his 16th win of the season, held the Leafs at bay in the third period, allowing just one goal on 17 shots as the Canucks were outshot 38-19 on the night.

"Their workers won the game for them tonight," Toronto coach Pat Quinn said. "That's the kind of things that happen, they forced a couple of goals on us when we made what you would call poor errors in judgment and position and they were rewarded for their hard work. It was one of those games where we probably, on overall play, shouldn't have lost... But we did."

Chad Kilger, Alexander Khavanov and Steen scored for the Maple Leafs (24-16-3) while Jarkko Ruutu and Anson Carter had the other goals for Vancouver (24-14-5).

Carter gave the Canucks a 4-2 lead eight minutes into the third period. Steen answered to cut the lead to one.

Burrows' goal came with 3:15 to play in the second period after the 24-year-old came out from behind the Toronto net and fired a shot on Ed Belfour. The Maple Leaf goaltender got enough of the puck to prevent it from going in but couldn't stop the rebound that bounced off the chest of Steen and into the open net.

Game notes
Vancouver RW Richard Park suffered a knee injury in the second period and did not return to the lineup. He'll be examined by team doctors on Wednesday. ... Vancouver D Ed Jovanovski missed his sixth straight game with a groin injury despite practicing with the team on Monday. ... Vancouver has a 15-3-3 record when at least one defenseman has scored a goal this season. ... Toronto D Bryan McCabe sat out with a groin injury suffered in Saturday's win over Edmonton. He was replaced on the blueline by Carlo Colaiacovo.