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NHL: Vancouver 2, Detroit 1 (SO)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 21 (UPI) -- Maxim Lapierre's backhander in a shootout Saturday elevated Vancouver to a 2-1 win over Detroit and clinched a playoff spot for the Canucks.

After the first two rounds of the tiebreaker didn't produce a goal, Lapierre came in slowly on Detroit's Jimmy Howard and, after a pair of fakes, lifted a backhanded shot into the upper corner of the net.

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Cory Schneider then closed out the win with a stop on Damien Brunner, securing a post-season berth for the Northwest Division-leading Canucks.

Schneider finished with 33 saves -- including 17 in the third period -- and Alexander Edler scored in regulation for Vancouver, which snapped a two-game skid.

Cory Emmerton scored and Howard made just 13 saves for the Red Wings, whose playoff hopes took a blow with the setback.

Detroit ended the night one point behind Columbus for the eighth and final Western Conference post-season slot with four games remaining.

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