VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Ed Belfour got all the attention but Vancouver's Kirk McLean earned the win as the Canucks beat the Sharks 5-2 Monday night.
McLean stopped 32 shots and assisted on Russ Courtnall's go-ahead goal early in the second period, spoiling Belfour's Sharks debut after coming over Saturday in a trade with Chicago.
McLean turned aside all 19 shots he faced over the final two periods, helping Vancouver improve to 14-2-1 at home against the Sharks.
Belfour, acquired from Chicago for three players and a draft pick, got little help from his defense and fell to 1-8-4 in his last 13 decisions. He allowed three goals on Vancouver's first 13 shots and finished with 25 saves.
"It was good to get out there, see action," Belfour said. "I felt a little rusty, but it's good to get the first one under my belt. I have to get ready for the next game and come out with a better performance.
"Maybe all of us had some butterflies, didn't know what to expect from each other. We should get better each and every game together."
With the score tied at 2-2, McLean sent Mike Sillinger and Courtnall into the San Jose zone on a two-on-one. Sillinger lifted a pass over the stick of defenseman Greg Hawgood and Courtnall put it into the net for his sixth goal of the season and second in three games.
Mike Ridley and Pavel Bure added insurance goals in the third period for the Canucks, who improved to 5-1-1 in their last seven home games. Ridley grabbed a loose puck in the slot and chipped it over Belfour's glove for his 14th goal. Vancouver is 9-3 when he scores.
"Even though I haven't been on the ice for about two weeks, I feel like this is how I was playing in the games before," said Ridley, who almost retired last week because of recurring back pain. "I had no jump (before), my legs were always burning and they felt like they were being suffocated. Tonight I felt much better. I think we're on the right track."
Bure beat Belfour on a breakaway with 5:15 remaining, giving him 10 goals and nine assists in his last 14 games.
"(Belfour) was really good, he made some outstanding saves early. He had a breakaway stop and a big glove save, but you know we had some terrible breakdowns defensively. We didn't give him much help," said Sharks coach Al Sims.
Bernie Nicholls and rookie Steve Guolla tallied in the first period for the Sharks, who lost at Vancouver for the second time in eight days. Canucks coach Tom Renney called timeout and berated his players after Guolla's goal made it 2-1 at 11:47.
"I haven't seen that too many times, but we weren't playing well at all," said Vancouver winger Martin Gelinas. "We weren't thinking, skating or passing and I think it paid off. It was a good thing to do.
"This was a good game, coming back after being down a couple of times. I didn't think we played well in the first period, but we got a couple of bounces, we came back and we played smarter in the second. In the third, we ended out on top. Our last game in Phoenix, we didn't get any breaks, but tonight we did and that makes a big difference."
Alexander Mogilny and Gelinas each had a goal and an assist as the Canucks escaped the first period with a 2-2 tie, although they were outshot 15-8.
Referee Stephen Walkom handed out 88 minutes in penalties in the final 71 seconds of the third period. San Jose's Dody Wood and Todd Gill received fighting majors along with Vancouver's Donald Brashear and Chris Joseph. Gill also was ejected after picking up an instigator minor.
"There were numerous calls being missed and sometimes you have to answer the bell. Sometimes you have to set a deterrent," McSorley said. "And at the end of the game, we had to say to those guys, 'You can't be picking on the little guys.' You've got to give the penalties that are deserved and let the players do what they're going to do. I think (Walkom) lost control of the game very early and he was trying to make up for it at the end."
Jon's 3 stars:
1. Martin Gelinas
2. Kirk McLean
3. Bret Hedican
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