ST PAUL: Brandon Sutter made a triumphant return to the Vancouver Canucks line-up. Back after missing 21 games with a lower body injury, Sutter scored 2:50 into overtime to lift Vancouver to a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday night.

Sutter took a pass from Alexander Edler just inside the Wild blue line, cut to the inside against Jonas Brodin and beat Devan Dubnyk on the stick side.

“I think we kind of knew that the D was changing,” Sutter said. “I tried to jump it. You get 1-on-1 with a little bit of speed, you want to try something. I just managed to get a step around him and tried to get a shot on and luckily it went through,” Sutter said.

Vancouver coach Travis Green wasn’t sure when to use the returning center in the extra period.

“They’re got some big bodies and some of the centermen are big. I just felt like I had to use him. I was torn to put him out that one or give him an extra shift off,” he said.

Vancouver trailed late in the third period before rallying to win its second straight after going 1-7-2 in its previous 10. The Canucks, who won 5-2 Friday in Columbus, hadn’t won two in a row since taking three straight Nov. 30-Dec. 5.

Associated Press