Vancouver Canucks defeat Senators 5-1 with help from Mikael Samuelsson

The Vancouver Canucks returned home in fine form after a 14-game road trip, defeating the Ottawa Senators 5-1 tonight at GM Place.  

Mikael Samuelsson scored two goals and an assist. This gave him 30 goals on the season. Alex Burrows, scored his fifth shorthanded goal of the season on a second-period breakaway, giving him 31 goals this season.

Daniel Sedin and Sami Salo notched the final Canuck goals on Senators goalie Pascal Leclaire.

The lone Senator goal was scored by Jason Spezza on an end-to-end rush in the second period.

The Canucks dominated the first period, outshooting the Senators 17-2. The home team  took control in the  second period with three unanswered goals.

Vancouver is now 42-23-3, which gives the team a five-point lead in the Northwest Division. Ottawa's record fell to  37-27-5.