VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Mark Recchi had two goals and an assist and Jocelyn Thibault made 28 saves as the Montreal Canadiens solidified their playoff standing with a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.
Vladimir Malakhov and Jassen Cullimore each had a goal for the Canadiens, who lead the Hartford Whalers for the seventh playoff berth in the Eastern Conference by one point.
Alexander Mogilny and Martin Gelinas scored for Vancouver, which lost its third straight, falling one point behind the Calgary Flames for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Canuck goaltender Kirk McLean, who stopped 24 shots, has dropped six of his last eight starts.
After Malakhov gave Montreal a 1-0 lead with his eighth goal of the season 16:57 into the first period, Recchi scored his 28th goal on the power play 4:54 into the second. The puck went around the boards on a dump in and squirted past Vancouver defensman Jyrki Lumme to Saku Koivu, who hit Recchi in front of the goal. Recchi cashed in by flipping the puck over McLean's glove for a 2-0 advantage.
"(Shane) Corson made a great play, causing them to look at him," Recchi said. "I don't think they saw me sneak back there, Kirk either. Sakiu made a great play I didn't have to do much with it, just put it in the net in the corner."
Mogilny sliced the lead in half less than two minutes later with his 27th goal. Rookie Larry Courville passed the puck from behind the net to Mogilny, who beat Thibault between the pads. Mogilny has seven goals and 15 points in his last 12 games.
Cullimore, a former Canuck, gave the Canadiens a 3-1 lead 39 seconds into the third.
Cullimore, who was traded to Montreal for left-winger Donald Brashear on Nov. 13, scored his second goal on a 3-on-2 when Recchi passed him the puck from the right circle to the left side. Cullimore then one-timed the puck past McLean's stick side.
"I think Cully feels pretty good getting the game-winner against his old team," said Recchi. "He made a great play. He went to the net and put his stick down and buried it. He's been a great surprise since he's been here."
"It's probably the most memorable goal of my career, seeing that I've only had four," Cullimore said. "It was a great pass from Recchi. I just came out of the penilty box and I had to play forward because I couldn't get a change. We got a break so I headed up ice and busted to the net. He laid the puck on my stick and I just had to redirect it."
Vancouver closed within a goal when Gelinas tallied his 19th goal with 6:44 left. There was a scramble in front of the Montreal net and rookie center Darcy Tucker tried to chip the puck out but it hit Gelinas in the back. Gelinas swirled around with the puck on his forehand and shot it off Thibault's blocker and into the net.
"On that shot I just grabbed it, turned around, put it on net and it went in," said Gelinas. "It's amazing."
Recchi iced the Habs' second win in five games (2-2-1) with an empty net marker, his 29th of the season, with 34 seconds left.
The Canucks have allowed four or more goals in eight of their
last 11 games. They were scoreless in six power play chances.
Jon's 3 stars:
1. Mark Recchi
2. Kirk McLean
3. Jassen Cullimore
Get your own Free Home Page