Sven Baertschi lifts Canucks to fourth straight win

VANCOUVER --Sven Baertschi has responded well to being a healthy scratch.
He scored his second goal of the game on the power play with 3:37 remaining to lift the Vancouver Canucks to their fourth win in a row, 3-2 against the Colorado Avalanche at Rogers Arena on Monday.
Baertschi has six goals and 11 points in 10 games since he was a healthy scratch Dec. 11 against the Washington Capitals.
"Coming back after that, I had a bit of attitude in my game because no one wants to sit out," he said. "I felt like I was letting the team down there. I came back after and started playing really well, so I guess it was good for me."

Baertschi gave the Canucks a 2-1 lead shortly after a power play expired with 1:45 left in the second period.
WATCH: All Avalanche vs. Canucks highlights
Colorado defenseman Tyson Barrie scored his first goal in 19 games to tie it 2-2 with 8:18 left in the third period, but Baertschi scored for his second two-goal game since coach Willie Desjardins benched him to win it for Vancouver.
With defenseman Cody Goloubef in the penalty box for delay of game, Baertschi pinched in to knock a rebound past goalie Calvin Pickard in tight for the game-winner.

"I've been able to get on the score sheet, but I'm more excited about how well we've been playing with the winning streak," Baertschi said.
Bo Horvat also scored for the Canucks (18-18-3), who are 6-2-1 in their past nine games and have won four straight for the first time since opening the season with four consecutive victories.
Henrik Sedin had two assists, Daniel Sedin got his 600th NHL assist on Baertschi's game-winner, and Ryan Miller made 24 saves to become the third U.S.-born goalie with 350 wins in the League.

"It was something I had identified that would be exciting to be a part of," Miller said. "You play a lot of hockey to reach that point."
Rookie Mikko Rantanen scored, and Pickard made 21 saves in his fifth straight start for the Avalanche (12-24-1), who have lost four straight games and nine of 10.
"We played a solid hockey game except for eight to 10 plays," coach Jared Bednar said. "A couple were needless penalties, a handful of turnovers, and it ends up costing us."

Bednar was most upset by the penalties. Goloubef, who took defenseman Erik Gelinas' spot in the lineup, exited the penalty box after being called for slashing right before Baertschi scored his first goal and was in it for his game-winner.
"Some of the penalties we're taking, it's getting repetitive, but that's what is biting us every night," Bednar said.

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Goal of the game

Baertschi scored his first of the night four seconds after a man-advantage ended. The Canucks' top power-play unit, led by the Sedins, controlled play in the Avalanche end for 1:25 before Brandon Sutter's pass from behind the net left Baertschi with time to corral the puck atop the left hash marks and beat Pickard with a wrist shot over the glove. "I think everybody would like to be in that spot," Baertschi said of his role on the power play. "They keep finding me backside."

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Save of the game

With 29 seconds remaining, a Loui Eriksson turnover at the Canucks blue line left Matt Duchene alone just above the crease. Miller didn't cheat when Duchene started right, staying on his post when Duchene dropped the puck between his legs to Gabriel Landeskog and stopping Landeskog with the blocker. "I try not to relax," Miller said of his reaction after the turnover. "I just tried to be patient knowing there were a couple guys there."

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Unsung performance of the game

Barrie had a great chance to tie the game early in the third period on a backdoor rebound, but Daniel Sedin tied up his stick enough to prevent a shot.

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Highlight of the game

Sutter thought he scored to make it 3-1 7:16 into the third period, celebrating what initially was called a goal after a wrist shot over Pickard's glove. But video review showed the puck hit the cross bar, leaving a piece of red paint hanging from it, and then bounced down, off the post and out.

They said it

"That's kind of been the story lately. We were actually playing good in the third there, we tied it up, then we kind of shot ourselves in the foot again." -- Avalanche goalie Calvin Pickard on allowing a late power-play goal
"Those are big names in American hockey. It's nice to be close to that." -- Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller on becoming the third U.S.-born goalie with 350 NHL wins (John Vanbiesbrouck, 374; Tom Barrasso, 369)

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Need to know

Henrik Sedin is four assists shy of 1,000 for his NHL career. … Barrie has a goal and six assists on a five-game point streak. … Horvat has a goal and four assists during a four-game point streak. His 11 goals lead the Canucks, and his 26 points are tied with Henrik Sedin for the Vancouver lead.

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What's next

Avalanche: At the Calgary Flames on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; SNW, ALT, NHL.TV)
Canucks: Host the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; SNP, FS-A, NHL.TV)