Canucks score twice in third to defeat Chicago, 4-2

It just seems to be getting silly now.  Pundits need to keep predictions under wraps until the season is at least a few weeks old.

Prognosticating on the NHL this had several teams not able to get out of their own way.

That may end up being true before the season is over but for now, one of those teams, the Vancouver Canucks, are playing solid hockey.

On Wednesday night, the Canucks doubled up the visiting Chicago Blackhawks, 4-2.

Brendan Gaunce struck for the game-winner midway through the third period.

Antoine Rousseladded a goal late in the period to give the Canucks breathing room down the stretch.

Gaunce was recalled from the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League on Tuesday.

“I just tried to get it off as quick as I could,” Gaunce said. “I knew he was coming out and he was a little bit off because it was such a quick play, and I just tried to get it up.”

Jake Virtanen scored two goals in the win.

“I felt like I was pretty confident tonight,” Virtanen said.

Jacob Markstrom made 24 saves to pick up the win.

“It’s easier said than done, but any team that wins in this league has secondary scoring usually. You need guys at certain times to step up. It’s not one or two or three guys that can score every night,” Canucks head coach Travis Green said after the game.

Brandon Saad and Jonathan Toews scored for Chicago.

“We just got sloppy with the puck. We started off pretty well, got out to a lead, but the second and third period were way too sloppy,” Saad said.

The Blackhawks were without Patrick Kane due to illness.

“You can’t replace him, but at the same time, you have to be sharper with [your] details because you are missing one of the best players in the world,” Saad said of Kane. “Definitely it hurts, but that’s still no excuse to play that poorly with the puck.”

[WATCH: All Blackhawks vs. Canucks highlights]

Corey Crawford made 24 saves in the loss.

Chicago was loose and free with the puck all night and turnovers were cited as the problem after the game.

“It was self-inflicted on the goals-against,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “Preventable, all of them, and they turned turnovers into the back of the net.”