Darcy Hordichuk News

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Shane O'Brien has received a one-game suspension for sticking it to Sean Avery on Tuesday at GM Place.

Even without their top stars, the Vancouver Canucks have played as a team and found a way to win three games in a row heading into Friday's tilt with Dallas.

The Stars saw the return of three players to the ice the last time they took the ice.

Tough guy Darcy Hordichuk and newly signed Matt Pettinger each scored their first goals of the season, forming an unlikely pair to lead the short-handed Vancouver Canucks to a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night.

Mikael Samuelsson thought Ryan Kesler was a good player when they used to face off against each other.

Matt Pettinger signed a one-year, two-way contract Monday. Photograph by: Arlen Redekop file, The Province Matt Pettinger always believed he could play in the NHL.

Vancouver Canucks Christian Ehrhoff gets hit by Colorado Avalanche David Koci during first period NHL action at G.M. Place in Vancouver on Sunday, November 01, 2009.

It appears the Vancouver Canucks may be finally getting some good news on the injury front.

Looking for wins, Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault is going unconventional. He will play defenceman Aaron Rome tonight as a forward on the Canucks fourth line, replacing Darcy Hordichuk.

Edmonton's Zack Stortini grapples against Darcy Hordichuk Sunday night. Photograph by: Jeff Vinnick, Getty Images As the Vancouver Canucks lifted their bruised and battered noses above the .500 mark Sunday night, one could begin to see what was meant last month when the depth of the team was being discussed.

Matthew Sekeres VANCOUVER - Published on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009 11:19PM EDT Last updated on Monday, Oct.

Vancouver's Alex Edler, left, chases down Edmonton's Shawn Horcoff as he takes a shot on Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo on Sunday.

A second late and a goal short. Kind of sums up the Vancouver Canucks' start, doesn't it? The Canucks maintained their perfectly bad National Hockey League road record, losing 2-1 Monday to the Edmonton Oilers when Kyle Wellwood's game-tying goal at the buzzer was determined by video review to have come a split-second too late.

Mason Raymond was a revelation Saturday against the Minnesota Wild. Can the team maintain the momentum against Edmonton tonight? Photograph by: Andy Clark, Reuters EDMONTON a ' On Saturday, Mason Raymond was a revelation, Roberto Luongo looked comfortable and Ryan Kesler was a leader.

Calgary Flames enforcer Brian McGrattan hit the Vancouver Canucks where it really hurts, on the scoreboard, as well as battling Darcy Hordichuk during Friday's NHL contest at the Pengrowth Saddledome.

Minnesota Wild's Jamie Sifers, right, falls over Vancouver Canucks' Ryan Johnson during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Vancouver, B.C., on Saturday Oct.

Calgary Flames enforcer Brian McGrattan beat up the Vancouver Canucks with more than his fists.

It appears Manitoba Moose callup Michael Grabner is going to receive more than a cursory look from the Vancouver Canucks.

Canucks fourth-liner Rick Rypien lands a punch to the face of 6-foot-6, 250-pound Montreal Canadiens defenceman Hal Gill during the third period of Vancouver's 7-1 victory Wednesday.

Shane O'Brien couldn't have imagined that an unlikely altercation would go a long way to shaping his future in the game.