from Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet,

The best two things about the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday were the points they collected for beating the Ottawa Senators 5-2.

Whatever was next best was a distant third.

Actually, the Canucks defended efficiently, limiting prime scoring chances during stretches when the Senators controlled play. But Vancouver managed only 16 shots, and were stuck at 10 six minutes into the third period.

Vancouver’s forecheck failed to cause its usual havoc, and the Canucks were certainly the second-fastest team for most of the night.

And yet, they won.

What a difference a year makes as Canucks avenge their loss with a win over SenatorsPlay VideoPlayMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 1:51Loaded: 8.88% Fullscreen

And they won going away, scoring three times in the final 22 minutes to extend the team’s points streak to nine games (8-0-1). This kind of a result, let alone the confidence and accountability players displayed afterward, would have been unthinkable here a year ago when the Canucks were crashing and about to turn into a fireball.

Until the last four weeks, this was a game the Canucks would probably not have won. But when you’ve already won nine of your first 12, winning No. 10 becomes a little easier – at least mentally.

continued

Game highlights are b3elow.