Raymond scores twice as Red Wings beat Canucks 5-2

VANCOUVER – Lucas Raymond scored twice in the first period and the Detroit Red Wings beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 on Thursday night, extending Vancouver’s losing streak to nine games.

Raymond opened the scoring at 4:18 of the first period, tipping in a point shot from Albert Johansson. William Wallinder made it 2-0 less than two minutes later. Elias Pettersson cut the lead to 2-1 on the power play at 7:02 with a one-timer off a feed from Filip Hronek, but Raymond restored the two-goal lead at 8:56 by poking home a loose puck in the crease.

Michael Rasmussen scored his first of the season at 14:56 of the second period, tipping in a point shot from Anton Johansson. Emmitt Finnie made it 5-1 four minutes into the third when Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen tripped over his own feet in the crease. Jonathan Lekkerimaki scored at 10:37 with help from Marco Rossi.

Lankinen stopped 25 of 30 shots. Detroit starter John Gibson made four saves before leaving with an injury after two periods, and Michal Postava stopped seven of eight shots in his first NHL game. Detroit outshot Vancouver 24-5 through 40 minutes.

The Red Wings improved to 4-3-3. The Canucks fell to 2-9-1.

The Canucks host the Minnesota Wild on Sunday. The Red Wings visit the Calgary Flames on Saturday.

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Via The Canadian Press and NHL.com.