in a lot of different ways out there and its nice to see him get

VANCOUVER -- Chris Higgins, known for being a consummate team player, decided to get selfish Friday night. But the out-of-character move paid off as he scored at 3:41 of overtime to give the Vancouver Canucks a 3-2 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes in NHL action Friday night. "Im not passing up that shot in overtime," said Higgins. The Smithtown, N.Y., native scored after he kicked the puck away from Phoenix centre Mike Ribeiro in the Vancouver zone and then raced down left wing and beat Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith with a quick shot to the far side. The Canucks (16-10-5) posted their fourth win in five games while the Coyotes (16-8-5) suffered their third loss in four outings. The win moved the Canucks one point ahead of Phoenix in the Western Conference standings. But Vancouver squeaked out the win after squandering a 2-0 lead in the final 10 minutes of regulation time. "Its lesson learned for sitting back in the third period," said Higgins. "It came back to bite us. I dont think we played in their end enough in the third, werent good on the forecheck all night, but we battled back." Higgins did not have much sympathy for reporters who were scrambling to re-write their stories as a result of the Phoenix comeback, with one suggesting the Canucks were "killing" them on deadline. "Were killing my grandma," said Higgins. "Shes back in New York and she stays up for these games, so its almost one oclock for her. And I feel bad for her." Jason Garrison and Henrik Sedin also scored for Vancouver. Antoine Vermette and David Moss responded for the Coyotes with goals only two minutes and 21 seconds apart midway through the final period. "We were focusing on getting pucks in in the third," said Moss. "That should have been the way we were playing the whole game." Despite the win, Vancouver coach John Tortorella was not pleased, to say the least, about his clubs effort. "I am happy we won, but I cant stand the way we won," said Tortorella. The Canucks coach chastized his players for allowing the Coyotes to come back late in the game. "I thought they played harder than us in the third period, and their sticks were better, and we have to get out of this situation of not finishing games -- because we are going nowhere until we do," said Tortorella. He said his club squandered an extra point lead that it could have had on Phoenix if the Coyotes did not take the game to overtime to earn one. Tortorella, who has made much about getting to know Vancouver players, and how they play in his first season on the West Coast, was puzzled with how the Canucks could put together their string of success. In his view, the Canucks, who played their first game at Rogers Arena following a four-game road trip, are not playing as well now as they were while struggling in their previous home stand. "We have more to learn as a club as far as mindset and situational play," he said. "I just dont think were a good situational team right now, and that onus falls on me as a coach. I need to continue to teach that until it turns into an instinct for us." For much of the game, Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongos play looked instinctive. He recorded 37 saves for the win as Smith stopped 29 shots in defeat. Through most of the first 40 minutes, the crowd serenaded Luongo with "Loooo" almost every time he made a save. But the Coyotes never quit working and were finally rewarded for their efforts with a pair of quick goals. Vermette pulled the Coyotes within a goal midway through the third period as he beat Luongo with a high slapshot from just inside the Vancouver blue-line after the Canucks got lackadaisical with the puck while trying to move it out of their zone. The Phoenix goal came moments after Vancouvers Jannik Hansen missed an open net at the other end of the ice. Then Moss, standing on top of Luongos crease forged a 2-2 tie as he put in the rebound off Rob Klinkhammers shot from the side of net. The quick tallies negated Garrisons power-play marker and Henrik Sedins one-timer off a pass from his twin brother Daniel in the second period following a scoreless first. "t was deja vu all over again from the previous home stand," said Luongo. "I got to try and make a save there. Even though it was a rebound, I got caught a little off balance and couldnt recover on the second goal, but the boys responded." Now, Coyotes coach Dave Tippett is looking for a response from his club when it wraps up a four-game road swing in Colorado on Tuesday. He was happy that the Coyotes are defending better and giving fewer shots and scoring chances. But he lamented his teams struggles to gain ground in the tight Western Conference standings. "We got three of (a possible) six (on the trip so far)," he said. And for where we are, we need to have a better percentage than that." Notes: After his miscue, Ribeiro declined a Coyotes media relations staffers request to speak to reporters. a Before the game, a moment of silence was held for late South African president Nelson Mandela, who died Thursday at the age of 95. a Coyotes captain Shane Doan sat out due to illness. Meanwhile, defenceman Derek Morris missed the game after leaving the club to attend to a family matter. a Andrew Alberts replaced defenceman Alex Edler in Vancouvers lineup. Edler is sidelined indefinitely with a lower-body injury. ... Vancouvers much-maligned power play has now scored in seven consecutive games. Sam Gaviglio Blue Jays Jersey .com) - Thursday marks the official debut of a new dirt racing surface at Meydan Racecourse. Pat Hentgen Blue Jays Jersey . Leaning forward with both hands on his knees, Buffon appeared to be resting or somehow trying to withstand the rain. Or perhaps the 36-year-old goalkeeper and Italy captain was reflecting on this: He is only the third player in history to be part of five World Cup squads, along with Germany great Lothar Matthaus and former Mexico goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/2976h-paul...-blue-jays.html. PETERSBURG, Fla. Marco Estrada Jersey .com) - A chant of Zeke reverberated around AT&T Stadium before Ezekiel Elliott powered into the end zone for his fourth and final touchdown. Fred Mcgriff Jersey . Signs of a turnaround have emerged in this series at Minnesota. Brian Roberts had three doubles and a triple for the first four-extra-base-hit game of his 14-year career, and the Yankees used their bullpen to preserve a 6-5 win over the Twins on Friday.TORONTO -- David Clarkson was one of several Toronto Maple Leafs who unburdened themselves on Tuesday. Clarkson finally scored his first goal as a Maple Leaf as Toronto beat the New York Islanders 5-2 for its second win in a row. The 29-year-old signed with the Maple Leafs as an unrestricted free agent in the off-season and was unable to score in his first 11 games with the team. "The biggest thing is that we won the game tonight," said Clarkson. "Ive tried to preach that the whole time. The chances were there, but Im here to win. "It does feel good, I guess, to get some people off my back a little bit," he joked. Phil Kessel also broke out of a mini slump, scoring a pair of goals. They were Kessels first goals in five games. He had just one point in his past seven. "Hes a highly talented player and doesnt need many chances to score goals," said linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Two sweet chances and in the back of the net. "Sometimes it comes in streaks -- its a long year. Hes got 12 goals in 21 games. Thats pretty good." Meanwhile, Trevor Smith had his first multipoint effort of his NHL career, scoring the first goal of the game for the Maple Leafs just 22 seconds in and adding a pair of assists for a three-point night. He has five points in three games since being recalled from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and six points in 12 games overall this season. "Im just trying to fill some spots for now," Smith said. "Its always tough when you have injuries, but injuries happen. Its part of the game. "You just got to come in, try to do the best you can, play confidently and work with what you got. The guys have been really great welcoming me and making it easy for me to play my game." And Joffrey Lupul had three assists to bust out of his rrecent slide.dddddddddddd After starting the season with 10 points in his first nine games, he had just two points in his next nine before his trio of helpers Tuesday. Mason Raymond also scored for the Maple Leafs (13-7-1) and Jonathan Bernier made 36 saves for the win. Casey Cizikas and Frans Nielsen replied for New York (8-11-3). Kevin Poulin stopped 19 shots in the loss. After Smith opened the scoring, the game remained 1-0 until midway through the second period. With Cal Clutterbuck off for tripping, Kessel took a pass from Lupul, curled inside the Islanders blue-line and snapped a shot from inside the right circle past Poulins blocker hand. It was Kessels team-leading 11th goal of the season. Toronto kept New York off the board until there were 11 seconds left in the second period. Cizikas got a breakaway behind the defence, deked to his left and slid the puck through Berniers legs to cut the Leafs lead to 2-1. Toronto regained its two-goal lead 3:39 into the third period. A mix-up at the New York blue-line by the Islanders defence gave the Leafs short a 2-on-0 break. Nikolai Kulemin was stopped by Poulin, but Raymond was able to backhand the rebound in for his eighth goal of the season. Clarkson put the game away at 12:52, snapping a shot top corner by Poulins glove hand. "That was a helluva shot," Van Riemsdyk said. "Hes been contributing for us in a lot of different ways out there and its nice to see him get rewarded with a goal. Im sure hes pretty happy about that, too." Nielsen cut the lead to 4-2 at 15:14, but Kessel snapped home his second of the game -- 12th of the season -- less than two minutes later on a 2-on-1 break with Van Riemsdyk to make it 5-2. Notes: Nazem Kadri sat out the third and final game of his three-game suspension...Announced attendance was 19,446. ' ' '