Mexico struck. Javier

VANCOUVER - Like just about everyone else in the building backup goaltender Eddie Lack was surprised when he suddenly was summoned off the bench against the Winnipeg Jets Sunday night. Wholesale Shoes USA . Lack replaced an injured Roberto Luongo late in the first period then watched defenceman Chris Tanev score the winning goal midway through the third as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Jets 2-1 in a tight NHL game. "I was a bit surprised for sure," said Lack, who stopped 15 shots to improve his record to 6-2-0. "I didnt hear anything before that he was hurt. "I just stuck my glove on and got out there." Luongo, one of the goalies being considered to represent Canada at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games, suddenly left the ice with 3:30 remaining in the first period. Head coach John Tortorella said Luongo had a lower body injury and is day-to-day. The game was Vancouvers last before the Christmas break and the Canucks dont play again until Dec. 29 in Calgary. Luongo had his leg clipped early in the period by big Winnipeg defenceman Dustin Byfuglien. He also was knocked flat on the ice during a goal-mouth collision with the Jets Blake Wheeler. Tortorella said Luongo had spoken with trainer Mike Burnstein briefly a couple of shifts earlier but had no idea the veteran goaltender was in any trouble. "I didnt know," he said. "It surprised me." Tanev broke a 1-1 tie at 10:23 of final period when he took a pass in the high slot from Zack Kassian and ripped a shot past Winnipeg goaltender Ondrej Pavelec. It was Tanevs fourth goal of the season, leaving him tied among Canuck defenceman with Dan Hamhuis and Jason Garrison. "Im just trying to get pucks to the net," he said. "It seemed like the seas parted when I got it. It was awesome when I walked into it." Brad Richardson also scored for Vancouver with his first power play goal of the season. Tortorella said the Canucks need players like Tanev and Richardson to contribute as the season continues. "You cant depend on just a couple of guys," he said. "I dont think this team for the last little while has. "I think everybody has kind of chipped in." Evander Kane scored on the power play for Winnipeg. The Jets pushed Canucks at times but couldnt beat Lack. Winnipeg has lost five of its last seven games. "We had some opportunities to score but I thought we didnt push the pace that we needed to," said Kane. "Not having the success now, its very frustrating. Its not something you want to be part of. Were going to have to figure out a way to change that and get out of that rut." The Canucks came into the game riding the emotion of a 3-2 shootout victory over the Blackhawks Friday night in Chicago. Lack was in goal for the game that saw Vancouver battle back from a 2-0 deficit. "Its fun when the team is winning," said the 25-year-old Swede, playing in his first season with the Canucks. "I feel like I have a great connection with the team. "I feel like they are there for me. It makes it easier." The win was even sweeter for Lack since his father, grandmother and girlfriend were among the sellout crowd of 18,910. Tortorella praised his teams effort, especially coming off a three-game road trip. "At the beginning of the third period it looked like we were ready to drop," said Tortorella. "I really respect the way they held on." Winnipeg coach Claude Noel said his team failed to take advantage of its chances. "I thought we carried a fair bit of the play, but theres a difference between carrying the play and finishing your plays," he said. "It isnt about scoring chances. "We just couldnt close out the game. That was the disappointing part." Richardson opened the scoring at 10:09 of the first period when he deflected a Hamhuis shot past Pavelec. The Jets tied the game at 9:38 of the second period. Wheeler sent a pretty pass to Kane, who beat Lack on the glove side. Jets rookie Mark Scheifele earned an assist for his eighth point (three goals, five assists) in the last five games. The goal came just a few minutes after Lack made a big stop off a point-blank shot from Byfuglien. Referee Ian Walsh left the game in the second period after a collision with Vancouvers Dale Weise. The game continued with Kyle Rehman acting as the lone referee. The Canucks improved their record to 22-11-6 for 50 points, leaving them tied with the San Jose Sharks for fifth-place in the Western Conference. The Jets are 11th in the West with a 16-17-5 record for 37 points. The Canucks have won nine of their last 11 games and collected points in 10 of those matches. CANUCK NOTES _ David Booths assist on Tanevs goal was his 100th career assist. ...Defenceman Kevin Bieksa played his 500th career game. ....Vancouvers Tom Sestito and Winnipegs Anthony Peluso engaged in a first-period fight. Cheap Fashion Shoes .J. -- The New York Jets have promoted Tony Sparano Jr. Wholesale Fashion Shoes . With just under five seconds remaining - the Raptors having clawed back from a 19-point deficit and pulled within one - DeRozan took the handoff from Chuck Hayes.SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- Mexico will play New Zealand for a spot in next years World Cup despite losing 2-1 at Costa Rica on Tuesday night. The Mexicans advanced to the home-and-home series when the United States rallied with two late goals to win at Panama. That kept Mexico in fourth place at the conclusion of the CONCACAF final qualifying round with only 11 points, three ahead of Panama, which would have advanced by holding off the Americans. Mexico will host the first leg on Nov. 13 or 14 and play at New Zealand on Nov. 20. The Mexicans have made every World Cup since they were disqualified from the 1990 tournament for using an overage player at a youth event, but they sure cut it close this time. Goals by Brian Ruiz in the first half and Alvaro Saborio in the second gave Costa Rica the win. The Ticos already had qualified for Brazil 2014 and wound up second to the United States in the round. Oribe Peralta scored in the 29th minute for Mexico, which won only two games in the 10-game finals. One of those victories came last Friday night against Panama in the first match for new coach Victor Manuel Vucetich, and that was the difference for El Tri. "We thought that we were out," Peralta said. Still, Mexico could be hard-pressed to beat the Kiwis and get to Brazil, especially if it cant find some offence. In 10 games, the Mexicans scored seven goals. "Weve got to reflect, and we have to do whatever it takes to make it to the World Cup," Peraltta added. Cheap Shoes Free Shipping. . "Things are not working as we wish." Ruiz put Costa Rica in front with a brilliant move, heading the ball to himself in the penalty area, then whipping his left leg around for a shot from 12 yards that goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa had no chance of stopping. But four minutes later, Mexico struck. Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez broke free and was about to put the ball into the net when diving keeper Keylor Navas barely touched it away. But the ball went directly to Peralta, who sent it into the unguarded cage. With rain coming down for most of the second half, particularly late in the match, each side pressed for another goal. Costa Rica got it, putting Mexico on the verge of elimination, when Saborio was left alone in front of the net to powerfully head home a feed from the right wing by Christian Gamboa. El Tri pressed for a tying goal, couldnt find it, but was saved, ironically, by the U.S. rally in Panama. Lineups: Mexico--Guillermo Ochoa; Hugo Ayala, Jorge Torres (Isaac Brizuela, 74th), Miguel Layun, Rafael Marquez; Oribe Peralta, Jesus Zavala, Christian Arevalo, Carlos Pena; Javier Aguino (Giovani Dos Santos, 66th), Javier Hernandez (Raul Jimenez, 60th). Costa Rica--Keylor Navas; Michael Umana, Giancarlo Gonzalez, Johnny Acosta, Bryan Oviedo, Christian Gamboa; Celso Borges, Yeltsin Tejeda (Jose Cubero, 72nd) Christian Bolanos; Joel Campbell (Michael Barrantes, 77th), Bryan Ruiz (Alvaro Saborio, 49th). ' ' '