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VANCOUVER -- A feeble power play has sucked the life out of the Vancouver Canucks at times this season. Another night of missed chances left the door open for the Nashville Predators to capitalize on a man advantage of their own. Nick Spaling scored the winner on the power play midway through the third period Thursday as the Predators defeated the Canucks 2-1. Vancouvers 25th-ranked power play finished 0 for 5, including a four-minute man advantage in the first period that could have significantly altered the games complexion. Canucks defenceman Dan Hamhuis had a tough game, missing chance after chance from the side of the Nashville net on that sequence. "We had some great looks on the power play early on. We had probably four backdoor opportunities that we didnt finish on," said Canucks assistant coach Mike Sullivan. "I thought our power play did everything tonight except put it in the net." Despite Sullivans positive take, Vancouver is now just 2 for 30 with the man advantage over its last eight games. "We had good chances, good looks. I thought we moved the puck well," said Daniel Sedin, who has now gone 11 games without scoring. "In the end it doesnt really matter right now. Weve got to get some goals. "Its up to us in here to make it happen. No excuses." Craig Smith had the other goal for Nashville (23-22-7), while Carter Hutton made 32 saves as the Predators picked up their fourth victory in the last five outings. Spaling also had an assist. "We got some good goaltending, Carter was really good on those backdoor plays," said Predators coach Barry Trotz, whose team improved to 1-21-2 when trailing after two periods. "They were executing that pretty well. We were having trouble trying to stop that and he got over there a couple times. "It was a good character test. That was huge for us to get through the first period." Chris Higgins had the only goal for Vancouver (26-17-9), which got 24 stops from Roberto Luongo. The Canucks, who still hold down the first wild card spot in the Western Conference, saw their modest two-game winning streak come to an end. Down 1-0 after two periods, Nashville tied it at 3:28 of the third when Smith ripped a shot upstairs past Luongo from the faceoff dot off a feed from Spaling for his team-leading 16th goal of the season. "Going into the third when youve got a lead the least you can do is bring it to overtime. Its disappointing," said Luongo. "I need to make a better play on the first one, be more patient on the wrap and read that play a bit better." The Predators kept pushing as the period wore on, with their sixth-ranked power play getting a couple of chances. The Canucks penalty kill -- which sits second in the NHL this season -- held firm until Seth Jones connected with Spaling at 12:38. Jones fired a shot from the point that Spaling tipped past Luongo with just three seconds left on the Nashville man advantage to give the Predators their first lead. Vancouver had another power-play chance late, but couldnt find a way past Hutton. "The NHL is about a lot of low scoring games," said Luongo. "Weve got to find ways to win them. Weve got to find ways to bring these games to overtime. Weve got to find ways to protect leads. When we get scored on weve got to keep playing. "Its a tough one to lose going into the third with the lead." After a scoreless first period, Higgins broke the deadlock at 9:09 of the second with his 13th of the season on a nifty deflection. Canucks forward Dale Weise floated a shot towards the Nashville net that Higgins tipped up and over a helpless Hutton for his first goal in seven games. All 13 of Higgins goals have come at even strength and Thursdays effort was just Vancouvers sixth overall in the last six contests. The Canucks power play continued to miss the mark in the second, with defenceman Jason Garrison blasting a shot from the point midway though the period that Hutton handled. "I thought this particular game, the power play had better puck movement and even though we didnt score we got some momentum off of it because at least they had some looks and they had some opportunities, which for me is progress in the right direction," said Sullivan. "The next step is we have to finish. We have to put it in the net." The Canucks were again without head coach John Tortorella, who served the second game of his 15-day suspension for attempting to get into the Calgary Flames locker-room after Saturdays line brawl. Vancouver was also missing captain Henrik Sedin and fellow forward Mike Santorelli. Thought to be nursing rib and finger injuries, Sedin saw his iron man streak of 679 straight games come to an end when he sat out Tuesdays 2-1 road victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Santorelli, meanwhile, missed his third in a row, also with an upper-body injury. Despite their recent run of good form, the Predators still sit eight points back of the final wild card spot in the conference behind the Canucks and Minnesota Wild. "This team has been really resilient all year," said Trotz. "Its been a little bit of an uphill battle all year. This team has got a lot of backbone, a lot of character and this group cares about each other so when things are a little bit rough they dig in and thats a great quality to have." Notes: Michael Del Zotto, acquired from the New York Rangers on Wednesday for fellow defenceman Kevin Klein, wore No. 18 for Nashville and played alongside Jones. ... Canucks defenceman Ryan Stanton returned to the lineup after missing the last 15 games with an ankle injury. Earlier in the day, the Canucks assigned forward Jordan Schroeder to the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League for a conditioning stint. Hes been out since October following ankle surgery. ... The Canucks downed the Predators 3-1 in Nashville on Dec. 1. The teams play the final game of the regular season series March 19 at Rogers Arena. ... The Canucks play the second game of a four-game homestand on Sunday against the Phoenix Coyotes. ... The Predators continue a four-game road trip on Friday against the Calgary Flames. Leander Dendoncker Belgium Jersey . Assistant coach Glen Gulutzan said Thursday that Edler, who played Tuesday in Nashville, is out indefinitely. Dedryck Boyata Jersey . You can catch all of the action LIVE on TSN2 at 6pm et/3pm pt. The Heat reached that mark Saturday night when they ruined the Philadelphia 76ers home opener. http://www.soccerbelgiumteamonline.com/Toby-Alderweireld-UEFA-European-Belgium-Jersey/ .Y. -- The "for sale" sign is up at the Buffalo Bills with the hiring of financial and legal advisers who may begin talking with prospective buyers within the next month. Nacer Chadli Jersey .Y. - Geno Smith shouted a couple of mighty expensive expletives. Marouane Fellaini Belgium Jersey . He says he will have the operation Wednesday and be ready in time for training camp in September. Bernier missed five games in March due to the injury. CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox jumped ahead, and the Detroit Tigers came right back. Jose Abreu had a big two-run homer for the White Sox, and Victor Martinez responded with one of his own for the AL Central leaders. Adam Eaton loved every minute of it. Eaton had a key run-scoring single in the sixth inning, and the White Sox snapped a three-game losing streak with a 6-5 victory over the Tigers on Monday night. "South Siders, were grinders," said Eaton, acquired from Arizona in a three-team December trade. "Were going to try to do the little things right and grind games out. I think that was as close to a boxing match as you can get. "Grinding it out, and I wouldnt have a baseball game any other way. I think thats how its supposed to be played." Gordon Beckham had three hits and Conor Gillaspie drove in two runs as Chicago bounced back from a sluggish trip to Southern California. The White Sox took two of three from the Dodgers before getting swept in a weekend series against the Angels. Martinez, Miguel Cabrera and Eugenio Suarez connected for Detroit, which has dropped seven of nine. Cabrera went 2 for 4 while serving as the designated hitter after leaving Sunday nights 5-3 loss to Boston with left hamstring tightness. "I feel better than yesterday," Cabrera said. "In the last couple innings, it was tightening. But hopefully I can come back tomorrow in the field and get loose again." Martinezs two-run shot off Hector Noesi (2-4) trimmed Chicagos lead to 5-4 in the sixth. But the White Sox got a big run in the bottom half on Eatons single and held on to win the opener of a nine-game homestand. Ronald Belisario worked a shaky ninth for his sixth save. "We had so many people contribute in so many different ways," Gillaspie said. Alex Avila hit an RBI double off Belisario before the right-hander retired Suarez on a deep fly to centre. Pinch-runner Rajai Davis advanced to third on the play, but Belisario struck out Ian Kinsler and got pinch-hitter Torii Hunter to ground to third for the final out. Rick Porcello (8-4) struggled through five-plus inninngs for Detroit, allowing six runs and nine hits.dddddddddddd He also committed a costly throwing error that set up Eatons run-scoring hit. "I just couldnt find any consistency in executing pitches," Porcello said. "I mean, we face these guys a lot. They know what youre going to do, and when youre not on point, on your game, theyre going to get all over it." Porcello was 9-1 with a 2.35 ERA in his previous 12 starts against the White Sox. The 25-year-old right-hander went 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA in three starts at U.S. Cellular Field last season. Noesi was charged with four runs and seven hits over 5 2-3 innings in his second straight win. The right-hander, claimed off waivers from Texas in April, pitched six solid innings against the Dodgers in his previous start. "Hes giving us a chance to win," manager Robin Ventura said. "He has been great. The changeup for him has really been a factor that has got him to this point." The White Sox scored three times in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead. Gillaspie drove in Beckham with his second RBI single and Abreu followed with a drive to centre for his 18th homer. Abreu had two hits after he went 1 for 12 in the sweep by the Angels. Cabrera watched for a brief moment as his one-out drive in the fourth sailed over the wall in left for his 12th homer. J.D. Martinez then singled with two down, but Gillaspie robbed Nick Castellanos of extra bases with a leaping grab at third for the final out. Suarez went deep in the fifth, tying it at 2. It was his second homer in his fourth major league game since he was promoted from Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday. NOTES: Victor Martinez has 15 homers and 15 strikeouts this season. ... White Sox GM Rick Hahn said the team has a "positive history" with agent Scott Boras and thinks they will be able to work together again when it comes to top draft pick Carlos Rodon. The White Sox grabbed the left-hander with the No. 3 overall selection Thursday night. The deadline for signing most amateur draft picks is July 18. ... Tigers RHP Justin Verlander (6-5, 4.19 ERA) faces LHP John Danks (4-5, 4.32) on Tuesday night. ' ' '