The Canucks started their game with the Red Wings wondering how the lineup juggling would work after second-line winger Chris Higgins was scratched due to what the team is calling the flu.

There was immediate concern about Higgins' health when he didn't take the pregame warm up, as he'd missed games both in early and late December with a scary staph infection that made his foot and then his hand blow up like a balloon, but the team gave its assurance he's out simply with an illness.

Higgins' absence caused a minor adjustment to the lines, with Mason Raymond moving up from the third line to take his spot on the No. 2 unit.

But the way the lineup looked to start the third period after two periods of "schooling" by the Red Wings, it seemed that head coach Alain Vigneault had run his roster numbers through a bingo ball machine.

It included the first in-game separation of the Sedin twins in what is believed to be nearly four years - and it worked, although the Canucks managed to steal a point in a 4-3 shootout loss.

The Canucks - whether from the radical change in chemistry or shock treatment from the coach - came out like a new team in the third. Alex Burrows, playing on an interesting unit that didn't include his usual linemates the Sedins, but did include fourth-line centre Max Lapierre and third-line winger Jan-nik Hansen, scored midway through the third period to make it 2-2.

Detroit's Drew Miller put the Wings ahead again, but Raymond

Cody Hodgson is the NHL's rookie of the month for January; visit thewhitetowel.ca - now playing with the unlikely combo of Henrik Sedin and Cody Hodgson - answered that to eventually send it to OT.

How much of a turnaround? The Wings didn't get a shot in the third until there was 8: 53 left.

Daniel Sedin was with another newly minted trio that included regular second liners Ryan Kesler and David Booth.

"You've got to try something," shrugged Vigneault when asked about the radical changes, particularly separating the Sedins. "I was at that point."

Daniel said he wasn't surprised the coach shook things up.

"When you've got 12 shots (11 actually) after the first two periods, it just isn't good enough," he said.

"They had a game plan in place but we couldn't seem to get the puck deep and get our forecheck going. We changed in the third and we started getting foot races and we took over."

As for splitting up him and Henrik: "I don't care. We came back in this game, that's all that matters. It's happened before, it's no big deal for us. Whatever he wants to do."

The twins were back together in overtime.

Burrows said the players talking among themselves during the second intermission had more to do with the third-period comeback than the jumbled lines.

"I don't know if it's sending a message or trying to get a spark," said Burrows. "I think it was more us talking among ourselves. We said we've got to be better.

"With Jannik and Max we wanted to get on the forecheck. The puck was just laying there on the tee and I was able to step into it," said Bur-rows of his goal.

jjamieson@the province.com