VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 19 (UPI) -- Alexander Edler and Ryan Kesler staked Vancouver to a two-goal lead in the first period Thursday and the Canucks fought off San Jose 3-2.
Vancouver moved within three points of Chicago for second place in the Western Conference. San Jose stayed two points in front of the Blackhawks for the top spot.
Ryane Clowe brought San Jose within a goal 4 minutes deep in the second, but Ryan Johnson produced his first score of the season to put the Canucks back in front by two with 3:12 to go in the stanza.
Joe Pavelski again cut the San Jose deficit with 3:08 to go in the third period, after which Roberto Luongo slammed the door on the Sharks. Luongo made 32 saves to win his 37th game of the season.
Evgeni Nabokov stopped 23-of-26 shots for San Jose.
