As the Vancouver Canucks lifted their bruised and battered noses above the .500 mark Sunday night, one could begin to see what was meant last month when the depth of the team was being discussed.

Edmonton's Zack Stortini grapples against Darcy Hordichuk Sunday night.

Photograph by : Jeff Vinnick

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Such talk evaporated after the hideous 0-3 start, but on Sunday night - with Kyle Wellwood the latest to hit the injury list - the depth of the organization began to shine through.

It's not that these players in question are setting the world on fire, but they've been able to plug just enough holes to prevent this team from taking a major skid in the standings, something that has the potential to ruin their long-term goal of winning the Northwest Division again this season.

Again Michael Grabner got himself a goal and missed enough chances to have a hat trick or two, which certainly is a lift from a guy who started the season in the minors and left us here in Vancouver curious as to whether he would ever see an NHL lineup.

Sergei Shirokov played easily his best game in a Canucks uniform, demonstrating he was paying attention in Manitoba to things like forechecking angles and how to stay high when your two linemates are behind the net. The young Russian had terrific jump despite playing his third game in three nights in three different cities. He's a much improved player since departing after a disappointing first three NHL games this season.

Christian Ehrhoff continued his productive work at even strength and on the power play, the defenceman who has been a lifesaver during the absence of Sami Salo, the struggles of Kevin Bieksa and the inability of Mathieu Schneider to play because he started the season on the long-term injury list.

And when Schneider did finally arrive Sunday night, he was able to step in for Aaron Rome to shore up the defence, Rome himself part of this depth although he struggled far more than had been anticipated.

Mikael Sammuelsson has stepped up to what has been considered the top line with Henrik Sedin and contributed at both ends of the rink.

Tanner Glass and Alexandre Bolduc certainly didn't hurt the Canucks Sunday, the latter actually very productive on the penalty kill with his size and quickness, although offence appears to be a long way off yet.

The penalty kill has knocked off 23 of the last 24 disadvantages, thanks in large part to Ryan Kesler and Willie Mitchell, the latter out against the Dustin Penner line all night.

"It seems like we're losing a player a game but guys are coming in and making a real good contribution," said Roberto Luongo. "Grabner has been really good for us since coming up and a lot of guys are filling in really well. Sometimes you need a challenge like that to really get you on your game. We're not going to win games 6-5, but we will win them 3-2, and that's the way it's been going lately."

Grabner was sweating during his high-sticking double minor in the third period but the penalty kill limited the listless Oil to just two shots, Kesler managing to maintain his perfect penalty-killing record, not having been on for a goal against all season.

"I was really excited every time the guys got it out of the zone," said Grabner of his uncomfortable sit in the box. "But the guys did a great job."

"There's not much difference between the kill now and at the beginning of the season, but we're getting some breaks, winning some faceoffs and the goaltending is good," said Kesler. "Right now it's pretty good but it's a big test Tuesday [against Detroit, a traditional power play leader]."

"This game is about finding ways to win and putting players in a position where they have a chance to succeed," said coach Alain Vigneault, who has done just that during this recent run where they've had to batten down the hatches with Daniel Sedin and Salo on the long list of wounded.