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  • VANCOUVER - Justin Fontaines shootout goal gave the Minnesota Wild a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks in NHL action Friday night. Raul Jimenez Mexico Jersey . Fontaine, Minnesotas seventh shooter, went wide on Canucks goaltender Eddie Lack and slid the puck under him. Wild goaltender Darcy Kuemper preserved the win by denying Vancouvers final shooter, David Booth, as he attempted a spin-o-rama shot. The Wild (33-21-7) posted its fourth straight win, while the Canucks (28-24-10) suffered their eighth loss in the past nine games. The Canucks outshot the Wild 31-23 with Minnesotas goaltender recording 30 saves and Vancouvers Eddie Lack stopping 22. The Wild scored on one of three power plays while the Canucks were blanked on two, but tallied while shorthanded. Vancouvers Ryan Kesler and Minnesotas Zach Parise exchanged first-period goals. Kesler, who missed Thursdays win over St. Louis with a hand injury and has been the subject of trade speculation, opened the scoring 5:19 into the game while the Canucks were shorthanded. After Chris Higgins forced a turnover just outside the Vancouver blue-line, Kesler raced down left wing and beat Kuemper with a high shot. The goal came while Daniel Sedin was serving a hooking penalty. Minnesota had a goal by former Canucks defenceman Keith Ballard disallowed as officials ruled Mikael Granlund interfered with Lack, but no penalty was necessary. Parise evened the score just under nine minutes later as he beat a heavily screened shot from the slot. The Wild captain put the puck between Alex Edlers and Dany Heatleys jerseys as they stood in front of the net. The Canucks outshot the Wild 11-6 in a scoreless second period, but could not beat a steady Kuemper, who made his 14th consecutive start. Early in the third period, he robbed Kesler while sprawled on his belly. After Kesler picked up the puck, cut in front of the goalmouth and sent a backhand toward the net, Kuemper lifted his right leg and kicked the disk out. The Canucks controlled play for much of the third, but struggled to generate dangerous chances against Minnesotas determined defensive efforts. The Wild only recorded its second shot of the period with 2:59 left, but still managed to force overtime. The Canucks received a rare power play 1:27 into the extra session as Parise was penalized for boarding Chris Tanev. In the shootout, Vancouvers Chris Higgins had Kuemper down and out after a deke, but hit the post on his clubs final shot of the regulation portion. Notes: Vancouver defenceman Chris Tanev returned after missing seven games with a thumb injury. … Wild captain Mikko Koivu remained out with an ankle injury suffered Jan. 4, but took part in his clubs morning skate. He has missed 17 straight games. … Most of Vancouvers injured players have returned. Only winger Mike Santorelli (shoulder, out for season) and defenceman Andrew Alberts (concussion) remain in sick bay. … Minnesota left winger Jason Zucker missed his second consecutive game with a lower-body injury while Marco Scandella sat out his third contest due to a sprained knee. Goaltender Josh Harding, who is struggling to find the right medication program for his multiple sclerosis, has missed 19 games. Jared Borgetti Mexico Jersey . -- If the Bears make changes this off-season, it will not be at quarterback. Carlos Pena Mexico Jersey . Canadas strong showing throughout the World Cup season has qualified it for the maximum number of spots in every short-track speedskating event at the Sochi Games in February. "With the beginning to the season that Ive had, beginning with the Canadian trials in August, I have nothing to doubt in myself. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Colorado Avalanche will be heading into their first post-season in four years without leading scorer Matt Duchene after the forward suffered a quirky left knee injury. Duchene hurt his medial collateral ligament when he ran into a teammate on the opening shift against San Jose over the weekend. Hes expected to miss about four weeks. The loss is a big blow for the Avalanche, who have turned things around in coach Patrick Roys first season in charge and are in the running for home-ice advantage with eight games remaining. "We hope for a speedy recovery to be back as soon as he can," Ryan OReilly said after practice Monday. Duchene was trying to avoid a collision with teammate Jamie McGinn, but they awkwardly bumped anyway near the Sharks blue line. Duchene fell to the ice and then gingerly skated to the bench. "One of those freak accidents in hockey," McGinn said. McGinn said hes called and texted Duchene, telling him to "stay positive." Duchene posted on his Twitter account Monday that the "thought of not playing in the first round for me has been devastating." He added that he will be "doing everything in my power to be ready for Game 1... And if not then, shortly after!" The 23-year-old Duchene has set career highs this season in points (70), assists (47) and shots (217). He missed three games earlier this season with an oblique injury. The team went 3-0 in his absence. For now, Roy said the plan is to move rookie Nathan MacKinnon to centre to fill in for Duchene, with OReilly and McGinn playing on the wings. "Weve been finding ways to win games," Roy said. "Well continue to find ways to win." Heres an encouraging sign: P.A. Parenteau, who sprained his knee on March 10, briefly skated on his own Monday. Roy said Parenteau could possibly be back for the regular seaason finale in Anaheim on April 13. Hector Herrera Mexico Jersey. "We have depth and a lot of confidence in our players," Roy said. "Our players have a lot of confidence in themselves. Its a team concept. Its how weve been winning our games. Its not going to change." Right after practice, Roy assembled his team at centre ice, just to give them one final pep talk before taking off for their game in Columbus on Tuesday. He told them he was "proud of them" and that the team shouldnt be satisfied, especially with Colorado trailing Central Division-leading St. Louis by only seven points. The message was well received. "All year, guys have stepped up and done a great job," McGinn said. "We just stay positive and work hard and good things will happen." Asked if there was any pressure stepping in for Duchene, MacKinnon responded, "No." "Im not going to try to replace Dutchy, because you cant," said MacKinnon, a clear favourite for rookie of the year. "Matt is a big-time player and were going to have to find ways to win without him." Roy knows all about missing an integral player for the post-season. He and the Avalanche were without Peter Forsberg during their 2001 Stanley Cup run when Forsberg had to have his spleen removed after the first round. The team carried on without the Swedish star, beating the New Jersey Devils in Game 7 to win the title. "Thats the way it was in 2001 -- it was about the team," Roy said. "Peter was a very important player on that team, dont get me wrong. But our culture was we had to work hard every time we were on the ice. We had to find ways to win hockey games. "Thats what this team has been doing all year. This is what were talking about when youre talking about a team changing their culture. Were not looking for an excuse. Were looking for a solution." wholesale nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '