Originally published October 6, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified October 6, 2007 at 2:03 AM

NHL | Canucks lose opening game

Jeremy Roenick scored twice — the 496th and 497th goals of his career — and Evgeni Nabokov had 22 saves, leading the San Jose...

By The Associated Press

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RICHARD LAM / AP

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo reacts after letting a shot by San Jose's Jeremy Roenick beat him for a goal during the first period Friday in Vancouver, B.C. The Canucks lost their opener 3-1.

NHL scoreboard

VANCOUVER, B.C. — Jeremy Roenick scored twice — the 496th and 497th goals of his career — and Evgeni Nabokov had 22 saves, leading the San Jose Sharks to a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Friday night.

After losing a shootout in Edmonton the previous night, San Jose spoiled the Canucks' season opener.

Joe Thornton opened the scoring 5:30 in by turning a two-on-one into a breakaway shot that trickled through the pads of Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo.

Roenick then moved closer to the American goal-scoring record. The 37-year-old Boston native banged in a rebound at 11:48 of the first period. Roenick added his 497th career goal on a deflection from the slot about 3 ½ minutes later.

Roenick, playing his 19th NHL season and first in San Jose, is three goals away from becoming the third American-born player to score 500 goals, and five goals shy of matching Joe Mullen (502) for second place behind leader Mike Modano (507) of the Dallas Stars.

Roenick made headlines last season for leaving GM Place after being told he was a healthy scratch and watching Phoenix Coyotes teammates play the Canucks from a nearby steakhouse and bar.

Which trip to Vancouver did he enjoy more?

"I don't know, that steak at The Keg was really good. They serve a really good steak, there's no question about that," Roenick said with a smile. "But I'll take the two goals instead."

Luongo finished with 28 saves, and Brendan Morrison scored a third-period goal for the Canucks.

"The first period, I don't think we were happy with our effort and I'm going to put myself at the forefront of that one," Luongo said. "We could use any excuse in the book, but the bottom line is it was our home opener so we have to be energized and come out strong and we really didn't do that.

"It's tough to get back in the game when you give up three goals in the first period."

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