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EDMONTON -- The Vancouver Canucks didnt need Henrik Sedin or their head coach to hold on for a win over Edmonton on Tuesday. Zack Kassians second-period goal stood up as the game winner as the Canucks won their second in a row, defeating the struggling Edmonton Oilers 2-1. Rookie Kellan Lain also scored for the Canucks (26-16-9), who have won just three of their last 11 games. Goalie Roberto Luongo made 28 saves for the win. The Canucks were without leading scoring Sedin, who missed his first game in close to a decade with an injury, and head coach John Tortorella, who started his 15-day suspension for an altercation during a game against the Calgary Flames on Saturday. "I think we all have to step up," Luongo said. "Its not just one person, thats what good teams do. When theres guys out of the lineup other guys have to step up and those coming into the lineup have to play well. "Good teams find a way to do that and (Tuesday) we played a great game." Canucks assistant coach Mike Sullivan said his teams good start proved essential when the Oilers started to battle back in the third. "I thought we played hard, I thought we played smart, the first two periods I thought we played real well," he said. "We were playing with fire there in the second, they have a lot of skill and their power play was really good. I thought once we killed that off to get out of the second period, the key for us was to make sure we didnt give them another opportunity." Jordan Eberle replied for the Oilers (15-31-6), who have lost five in a row and 10 of their last 12. It was also Edmontons fourth losing streak that has gone five games or more this season. "We could have had two or three goals on the power play, but Luongo made some really good saves," Eberle said. "I thought we played a pretty good game, we just couldnt find a way to score. I think for sure the saves he made on our power plays made the difference." Oilers captain Andrew Ference said some progress was made, but it may have been a case of too little, too late. "We showed some great fight at the end and good pressure and some good chances," he said. "The penalty kill was excellent tonight. It was good, but there was still that extra little bit that everybody feels was left on the table a little bit at certain points in the game." Vancouver got on the board just over five minutes into the game as Oilers starter Ben Scrivens allowed a big rebound on a long shot from Dale Weise. Lain was there to swat at the rebound that glanced off of Scrivens arm and in. It was Lains first career NHL goal in just his second game. "You always dream of playing in the NHL, but you also dream of scoring that first goal," Lain said. "When you get it, its a pretty special moment. I just drove to the net and the puck just popped out to me." Vancouver had nine first-period shots to Edmontons six on Luongo. Shortly after killing off a penalty where Luongo stood tall on several good Oiler chances, the Canucks made it 2-0 eight minutes into the second period as Ryan Kesler spotted Kassian streaking towards the net and fed a pass to set up a floater of a shot that beat Scrivens up high. It was Kassians 10th of the season. Edmonton coach Dallas Eakins was not thrilled with a line of questioning after the game that debated whether or not their should have been an attempt to send a message to Kassian. He was suspended earlier this season after he high-sticked Oiler Sam Gagner in the face in a pre-season game, breaking his jaw. "I saw a talk between a guy on our team that handles that kind of stuff very well and that player, and one player wasnt willing to engage," he said. "So Im not quite sure what else you want us to do. You can go jump him, go slash him, cross-check him in the face, something like that, but Im not sure how that helps us win a close game." Luongo did his part to keep the two-goal lead intact with five minutes to play in the second half as he came across to make a huge blocker save in tight on Eberle with the Oilers on the power play. Eberle, who also hit a post early in the third period, was finally rewarded with five minutes remaining as Gagner crashed the crease and a mad scramble ensued before the puck came loose. Eberle was able to send it through a forest of legs to make it 2-1 and spoil Luongos shutout bid. Edmonton had its chances late in the game with Scrivens on the bench, but couldnt get another goal past Luongo. Scrivens finished with 25 saves. The Canucks return home to start a four-game stand against Nashville on Thursday. The Oilers next game is on Friday, when they play host to the Phoenix Coyotes. Notes: It was the third of five games between the Pacific Division rivals. Vancouver won both of the previous encounters by a combined score of 10-2. The Canucks entered the game having won eight of the previous 11 games between the two squads ... A pair of players acquired during Edmontons four-game road trip made their Oilers debut as the fans got their first looks at forward Matt Hendricks (traded from Nashville) and Scrivens (trade with Los Angeles). Scrivens, from the Edmonton satellite community of Spruce Grove, Alta., was playing his first-ever game in Rexall Place. ... The Oilers were missing forwards Ales Hemsky (foot) and Nail Yakupov (head) and defenceman Philip Larsen (illness). Defenceman Corey Potter returned from missing the last 11 games with a groin injury. ... Also out for the Canucks were Mike Santorelli (shoulder), Ryan Stanton (ankle), Andrew Alberts (concussion) and Jordan Schroeder (ankle). Paul Millsap Nuggets Jersey . Hughes, 30, is a former Major Leaguer with the Baltimore Orioles, having played in 14 games with the Os in 2010. 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The announcement was made at the world mens curling championship at Capital Indoor Stadium in China. DUBLIN, Ireland -- Ireland has a sniff of its first Six Nations rugby title in five years after humbling defending champion Wales 26-3 at Lansdowne Road on Saturday. Ireland scored the games only two tries from superb rolling mauls while Jonathan Sexton kicked four penalties, his only miss from beyond halfway. By contrast, Wales only shot in anger was a second-half try disallowed, while Irelands superior discipline gave Leigh Halfpenny only one penalty kick, nearly an hour in. Wales, trying to become the first team to win the championship three successive times outright, promised to be direct and physical but was overwhelmed by a swarming defence and forced into multiple errors; 15 penalties and two free kicks, 16 missed tackles, 10 turnovers, two chargedowns. Wales paid for it with a first away loss in the championship since 2011, when it also last failed to score a try. Coach Warren Gatland, following Wales biggest Six Nations defeat in his seven-year tenure, called it his lowest moment. "We wont be thinking in terms of retaining the Six Nations, well be thinking about improving for our next game against France," he said. Gatland was taken aback by Irelands rugged defence, and his side conceding 17 penalties and free kicks. "I cant remember any occasion when they moved the ball through the backline at us," he said. "They dominated us up front and caused us a lot of problems. We have a target of 10 (penalties) or loss, so to give 17 away was simply unacceptable." After two successive wins for the first time since 2010, Ireland was in pole position for this years title, though it must win at least one of its two away games, against England next in two weeks, or France in the tournament closer next month. "Im not going to think too far ahead," Ireland coach Joe Schmidt said. "But its certainly a gathering of confidence for us." He said replacement lock Dan Tuohy may have a broken forearm. The 13-0 halftime score fairly reflected Irelands control. By the time Sexton kicked them 6-0 ahead in the 17th minute, Wales had conceded five penalties to one. The scrums were a mess ffor both sides but the lineout was an Irish pressure point, thanks to OConnell and Devin Toner.dddddddddddd Even in the collisions, the Welsh came off second best. Scott Williams cut down Irish opposite Brian ODriscoll, who was winded for a bit, but it was Williams who soon walked off cradling his right shoulder. With Wales putting out a dozen Lions to Irelands nine, some big Welsh names were left in the shade: Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones by Cian Healy and Mike Ross in the front row, Sam Warburton and Dan Lydiate by Chris Henry and Peter OMahony in the loose, and George North and Alex Cuthbert by Andrew Trimble and Dave Kearney on the wings. Sexton, Paul OConnell, Toner were also Irish standouts. Wales coming off second-best everywhere was no better encapsulated than about half an hour in. Wales earned a lineout throw-in on the Irish 22, but Wales blew the lift and Toner didnt even have to jump to take the gift catch. Moments later, Wales turned over the ball near halfway and Sexton had the foresight to realize Halfpenny was up near the play, so he kicked down the line and No. 8 Jamie Heaslip forced Rhys Priestland to run the ball out. Given an attacking lineout five meters out, Toner took the catch, handed the ball to Henry, and the flanker was trailered in a fast rolling maul into the right corner for his first test try. Sexton converted from the touchline. After Sexton made it 16-0 in the 46th, Irish fans began singing, their confidence rising. When Halfpenny, on the occasion of him becoming the youngest Wales player to 50 caps at 25, finally kicked their first points, OMahony drew a second penalty for Ireland and Sexton delivered. Wales one try chance came after scrumhalf Mike Phillips tapped two consecutive penalties and replacement prop Rhodri Jones burrowed over but he was penalized for a double movement. In the last minute, Ireland expressed its power again when it rolled a maul from a lineout 20 metres out, which sucked in so many Welshman that replacement flyhalf Paddy Jackson ran in untouched, until Liam Williams dropped an elbow on his face. Jackson still had the last say, with the conversion. ' ' ' league alive, so it will be a difficult contest," Ancelotti said, "and well have to play our best to win." ' ' '
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