Great game last night!

We were very fortunate to have tickets for last night's Canucks-Lightening game (thanks Mary!!). The first 10 minutes were rather dull but then things picked up and the Canucks ended up winning 5-1...rather shocking considering most of their wins have been one-goal margins. Jeff Cowan got another couple of goals - the fans were chanting "Cowan" at the end of the game.

(Sports Network) - Jeff Cowan has never been known as a scorer. In fact, he's only recorded double-digit goal totals only one time during his seven-year NHL career. At least for the time being, however, the journeyman forward has become the most dangerous sniper on a Vancouver Canucks squad loaded with talented offensive players.

Cowan hadn't scored once during his first 44 games played this season, but he's lit the lamp five times during Vancouver's current three-game win streak. The 30-year-old, whom the Canucks claimed off waivers from Los Angeles in late December, tallied twice in Sunday's key 4-3 victory over division-rival Minnesota, then backed that performance up with another two-goal effort to fuel Tuesday's 5-1 rout of Tampa Bay.

Prior to Sunday's win, Cowan never had scored twice during a game in 349 previous NHL contests.

"He's scoring timely goals, he's working hard, he's doing all the things you expect and more," said captain Markus Naslund of Cowan. "I'm happy for him."

Goaltender Roberto Luongo matched a Canucks' franchise record when he earned his 38th victory of the season in the Tampa Bay game. The All-Star netminder, who now shares the mark set by Kirk McLean in 1991-92, didn't have to work too hard on Tuesday. Luongo faced just 17 shots on the evening.

With Tuesday's big win, Vancouver maintained its two-point advantage on Calgary for first place in the Northwest Division as well as the coveted No. 3 spot in the Western Conference playoff race.

The Canucks also improved to a gaudy 8-1-1 against Eastern Conference clubs by defeating the Lightning. Unfortunately for Vancouver, Tuesday's tilt was the team's final interconference encounter this season.

Vancouver will play its next three games on the road, beginning with Friday's visit to Phoenix. The Canucks will then take on the Pacific Division's top two teams, San Jose and Anaheim, before returning home for a key showdown with Minnesota next Tuesday.