Avalanche Buries Vancouver Canucks 4-2

Vancouver Canucks Ryan Kesler sends his shot past Colorado Avalanche goaltender Jose Theodore. (AP Images)

It was a rough night for Canucks fans in Vancouver's GM Place when the trailing Avalanche pulled their socks up in the second period as Milan Hejduk and Wojtek Wolski scored 35 seconds apart to cement their place in the playoffs.

Things were looking good for the favorite to win Canucks' Willie Mitchell put a goal past Avalanche goaltender Jose Theodore during the first period. Ryan Kesler scored on the power play at 5:50 of the second to put Vancouver up 2-0. At the beginning of the second period, the Canucks had a solid lead, but allowed the Colorado Avalanche to score three goals in 5-minute span midway through.

It was a rough loss for Vancouver, who also lost winger Taylor Pyatt, who did not return after being hit by Colorado defenceman Jeff Finger in the first period. The loss has moved the Canucks to ninth place, one point behind the Nashville Predators. Both teams have two games remaining.

Along with their playoff spot, the Avs also earned their sixth straight win over Vancouver. Get your NHL betting in the Bodog Sportsbook.