Late Colorado goal sinks Vancouver Canucks

This was a game the Vancouver Canucks were supposed to win.

Facing off against the last-place Colorado Avalanche, the Northwest Division–leading Canucks were primed to increase their lead over the Minnesota Wild.

But a slap shot by the Avs' Jan Hejda with eight seconds remaining eluded Vancouver goalie Cory Shneider on his right side.

And this completed a Colorado comeback 4-3 victory.

The Canucks were not at their best, coughing up the puck on numerous occasions.

Before the two-minute mark of the first period, defender Kevin Bieksa threw the puck in front, where it was scopped up by Avs' captain Gabriel Landeskog. He fired it behind Schneider for a 1-0 lead.

Vancouver came back in the second period on goals by Maxim Lapierre and Jannik Hansen. There were only nine shots on the net in the second frame, five by the Canucks.

The third period mostly belonged to Colorado. Cody McLeod tied the game at 2:02, but just over a minute later, a Jason Garrison slap shot gave Vancouver a 3-2 lead.

P.A. Parenteau tied it up at 12:57 with his 16th goal of the season before Hejda sealed it for the home team.

Colorado had another golden opportunity in the third period when Max Lapierre sent the puck back into his end, where it was picked up by Avs centre Paul Stastny. He was foiled on a breakaway by Schneider.

Vancouver successfully killed all three of its penalties, bringing its streak to 19 straight without allowing a goal. But the Canucks were unable to convert two power-play opportunities.

The Canucks' next game is on Monday (April 15) in Nashville, followed by another road game the following night in St. Louis.