Canucks 2 Thrashers 1

It also marked a highlight-reel night for Alex Burrows, who got under Kovalchuk's skin and also scored the winning goal. The super-pest strategy could have backfired, but the agitating Burrows wasn't worried about that.

"If we can get under his skin, that's another part of the game that we've got to do," said Burrows.

"Those Russian guys. Normally, it [agitating] doesn't really wake them up. They like to shut it down and just going at him is part of my game."

Scoring isn't, but Burrows is one of the Canucks' most-improved players and his sixth goal spoke of hustle and enough skill to thread the needle.

Vigneault's convinced the process started well before the puck was dropped. It started when Mattias Ohlund went above the call of duty to help the Canucks improve to 14-16 in one-goal games.

Not only did the defenceman start the sequence for the tying goal -- his slapshot from the left boards was deflected by Daniel Sedin -- he returned from taking care of a family matter to rejoin the Canucks at the morning skate.

"For him to take a red-eye [flight] last night and to come here and play says so much about the individual and how much he cares about his teammates," said Vigneault.

"It was a huge lift for us and I'm really pleased to be his coach because he's a top-notch competitor."

Ohlund logged 23:36, had two shots on goal and played well even though he could have been easily distracted by events in Vancouver.

• Going home on a high. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
• 55 games in, the Canucks finally had their first regulation win after trailing after two periods. (Charles Odum, AP via Globe and Mail; Carroll Rogers, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

• Maybe, maybe not. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun; Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province).

Labels: Burrows, game recap, Ohlund, Thrashers