Martin Gelinas added a goal and two assists for the Canucks, who had been 0-5-2 in their previous seven games. Vancouver is 7-1 all-time against the Lightning, including a 3-1 mark at Tampa Bay.
"Brian Noonan has been an excellent addition to our hockey team," Canucks coach Tom Renney said. "He does all the subtle things very well. He's an honest two-way player. It was nice to see him get a couple of goals."
Corey Hirsch lost his shutout bid with just under six minutes to go in the third period, but finished with 37 saves for the Canucks, who moved within four points of Chicago for the final Western Conference playoff berth.
"The players answered the bell," Renney added. "Corey Hirsch played well. It was a solid effort. Certainly, the last few games he has played well. Corey allowed us to win the hockey game today."
Dino Ciccarelli and Jason Wiemer tallied for Tampa Bay, which is 1-3-1 in its last five games and trails Montreal by two points for the final playoff spot in the East.
"There's no way to explain it, it's embarrassing," said Lighting forward Shawn Burr. "There is no excuse. It's an embarrassing feeling. You just try to go out there and do the job. We're not getting it done right now and there's only one good thing about the whole thing -- everybody else is losing too and we're all in the same position as we were a week ago."
Noonan, acquired with Sergei Nemchinov in a four-player deal with the New York Rangers on March 8th, had the first two goals of the game as Vancouver built a 5-0 lead. He opened the scoring at 10:47 of the first period, converting Gelinas' centering pass from behind the net. It was his ninth goal of the season and first since February 17th.
Noonan added a shorthanded goal 2:49 into the second period off a 2-on-1 with Mike Sillinger, beating goaltender Rick Tabaracci high to the glove side.
Alexander Mogilny broke in alone with 4:55 to go in the period before putting the puck through Tabaracci's pads for his 28th goal.
"We have been struggling lately," Mogilny said. "Tonight was a good effort for everybody. We're out of the playoff by a couple of points so every game counts to get back in it. We have a lot of injuries (and) we can't afford to lose any games."
Sillinger and Gelinas scored in the opening eight minutes of the third period to build a five-goal cushion.
Ciccarelli spoiled Hirsch's shutout bid with 5:58 remaining when his shot from the right faceoff circle deflected in off a Canucks defender. It ended the Lightning's scoreless streak at 114 minutes, two seconds.
"Another brutal effort," said Tampa Bay coach Terry Crisp. "I thought we used very possible way to shoot ourselves in the foot, but we seemed to come up with some new ways. Our defensive mistakes were costly. We just gave away three of the first four goals."
Wiemer capped the scoring with 1:17 to go.
Jon's 3 stars:
1. Brian Noonan
2. Martin Gelinas
3. Mike Sillinger
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