Ryan Kesler scored two breakaway goals in the third period to distance the Canucks from the Red Wings in a 4-1 Vancouver victory. The loss drops the Red Wings to 1-7-1 in nine games with the club's lead in the Western Conference seedings down to six points over the Dallas Stars.

The Red Wings played Saturday's game while missing four of their top six defensemen: Nicklas Lidstrom (knee), Brian Rafalski (groin), Niklas Kronwall (clavicle) and Chris Chelios (leg contusion). Rookie defenseman Garrett Stafford made his NHL debut as he subbed in for Chelios, who was injured in the first period Friday night in Calgary.

The game was also just the second career NHL game for Jonathon Ericsson, who made his debut Friday.

The two clubs traded goals in the first period with the Canucks scoring first off the stick of defenseman Alexander Edler at 14:26. The Red Wings answered quickly, with Pavel Datsyuk deflecting a point shot from Derek Meech past Roberto Luongo at 16:54.

Vancouver scored the only goal of the second period when Sami Salo ripped a blast from between the circles on a Canuck power play at 10:39.

Kesler broke things open in the third period when he stripped Brett Lebda of the puck at the blueline and beat goaltender Jimmy Howard between the pads at 3:31. Kesler iced the game in similar fashion with three minutes remaining in the game.