You might have guessed that when the Vancouver Canucks needed someone to pick them up and carry them on his back, it would be Ryan Kesler.

Vancouver centre Ryan Kesler looks to dig the puck out as Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom tries to cover up during the third period Saturday night at GM Place.

Photograph by : Nick Procaylo, the Province

ARTICLE TOOLS

• Printer friendly
• E-mail

Font:

• *
• *
• *
• *

With all deference to goaltender Roberto Luongo, who made a couple of gave-saving stops in the final minute, it was Kesler who came out determined to get his team back on the right track after the embarrassment of the previous night in Calgary.

Kesler scored the huge equalizing goal after the Minnesota Wild took a 1-0 lead against the run of the play and sparked a new line that is certainly one of the NHL's fastest while leading the Canucks to a 2-1 decision.

"We needed to have a game like this," said Kesler, who extended his points streak to five games (3-3-6).

"Tonight, I thought we played a full 60 minutes."

Alex Burrows said he got the sense Kesler was ready to lead the team.

"That's the kind of guy he is," said Burrows. "Every time he comes to the rink I always tell him that. When he's confident out there he's an unbelievable player."

Kesler had been playing with Mason Raymond the three previous games, but against the Wild rookie Michael Grabner was added to the right side in just his second NHL game.

The trio, who can all fly, showed promising chemistry for the last two periods and generated 17 of the Canucks' 39 shots on goal.

Many of them created pressure on Minnesota goalie Niklas Backstrom. Kesler had eight, Raymond had six and Grabner -- who appeared much more comfortable than in Friday's 5-3 debacle in Calgary -- had three.

"Speed kills in this game, especially when you can't hook and grab anymore," said Kesler. "We know our line is about speed and generating shots off the rush and backing off the D. And when you get shots in the offensive zone, we had the speed to get the rebounds.

"I thought we used our speed to our advantage tonight. I thought both my wingers played exceptional."

Kesler scored an unlikely goal at 4:23 of the second period after being stoned by Backstrom on a couple of other great chances.

He called for a pass from Kevin Bieksa at the right side of the Minnesota net, looked pass all the way and then banked the puck in off the inside of the goalie's right pad.

"It was a garbage goal, but that's the type of game it was tonight," said Kesler. "They get a lucky bounce and they we get a back-door rebound."

Kesler was impressed by Grabner, who set him up for one of his chances in the slot.

Grabner had a poor training camp and was sent to the minors, but the injury to Daniel Sedin has given him his first shot to show he can play in the NHL.

"Every game he's getting better," said Kesler. "He's working hard. I played with those two guys one year in training camp and we seemed to generate a lot off the rush and it worked again tonight."

Grabner said he's feeling better every game.

"I'm playing with great players here," said Grabner. "It felt really good. I think we've got some good chemistry."

jjamieson@theprovince.com