Kesler’s goals lead Canucks

The former Buckeyes player overwhelmed the Blue
Jackets.

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ryan Kesler scored two goals and goaltender Curtis Sanford had a solid game in his first start of the season to lead the Vancouver Canucks past the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 Sunday night.

Markus Naslund and Kevin Bieksa added goals for the Canucks, who had lost their last two games. They won despite being outshot 20-0 during one lengthy span.

Naslund’s goal gave the Canucks some breathing room. Ahead 2-1 and hanging on in the third period, Naslund controlled the puck as he skated down the right wing and then angled sharply toward the high slot, waiting patiently until he ripped a hard wrist shot high into the corner of the net.

Kesler, who played college hockey at Ohio State, stole the puck from Columbus’ Nikolai Zherdev and scored on a shorthanded empty-netter after the Blue Jackets pulled their goaltender for a two-man advantage with just more than a minute remaining.

Kesler stretched his points streak to three games — he had three assists in Vancouver’s last two games — when he scored on a wrister from the left circle on the Canucks’ first shot, 5:39 in. It was just a straightforward rush, with no one in front of the goal, yet it eluded Columbus goaltender Pascal Leclaire.

Kesler’s goal ended Leclaire’s home scoreless streak at 156:01. Leclaire, who came into this season with just one career shutout, has three this season including two in his only previous starts at home.

Vancouver made it 2-0 on its first power play, with Biekstra scoring on a one-timer from the left dot. His shot found its way through five players in front of the net.

Columbus hadn’t given up two goals in the first period in its first seven games.

Sanford, getting his first start in relief of Roberto Luongo, had given up four goals in just 39 minutes in his only appearance this season. But he made a number of nice glove saves on the Blue Jackets, who outshot the Canucks 36-19.