NHL: Vancouver 2, Minnesota 1

ST. PAUL, Minn., Dec. 5  -- Jason Jaffray scored the game's final goal 3:52 into the second period Friday and the Vancouver Canucks made the lead stand up for 2-1 victory over Minnesota.

The Canucks ended a four-game losing streak and jumped past Minnesota into first place in the Northwest Division.

It was the first goal for Jaffray this season and only the third of his NHL career. He was recalled to the Canucks this week from Manitoba of the American Hockey League.

Vancouver owned a 1-0 lead after the first period on Kevin Bieksa's power-play goal, but Mikko Koivu tied it 27 seconds into the second with a wrist shot that got past Cory Schneider.

Jaffray produced the game-winner with assists from Jannik Hansen and Darcy Hordichuk.

Schneider, who is on the roster while Robert Luongo recovers from an injury, stopped 16 shots to record his first victory of the season. Niklas Backstrom made 27 saves for the Wild. (UPI)

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