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Canucks moving on after Eager hit

By Dhiren Mahiban - NHL.com Correspondent

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Canucks moving on after Eager hit
The Canucks aren't complaining about Ben Eager's hit on Daniel Sedin the second period Wednesday. They'll just keep playing hard and work on taking advantage of Sharks penalties
VANCOUVER -- During his post-game comments Wednesday, Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said the NHL would do the right thing in regards to Ben Eager's hit from behind on Daniel Sedin.

On Thursday, that decision was not to assess any supplemental discipline for the hit.

With 28 seconds remaining in the second period, Eager hit Sedin from behind and into the boards, and he was given a two-minute boarding minor. The Canucks failed to score on the power play.

"You don't want players running around trying to hurt people," Vigneault said after Thursday's optional skate here at Rogers Arena. "It's evident by him challenging the bench at the end of the period, his coach is saying that's how he wants him to play."

Sedin, who had two goals in the 7-3 win in Game 2, said he wasn't feeling any after-effects from the hit.

"We'll move on and have a good game (Friday)." -- Daniel Sedin

"I feel good," he said. "It's up to the League, I can't really worry about what they do, so it's a new game tomorrow and we'll be ready for that. It doesn't matter what I say or what I think -- it's up to the League and they made their decision.

"We'll move on and have a good game (Friday)."

As a group, the Canucks said Eager in the Sharks' lineup represents a benefit to Vancouver as long as he continues taking undisciplined penalties. He was whistled for five minor penalties in Game 2, as well as a 10-minute misconduct.

"Obviously if he's undisciplined and the referees call it, then it's favorable to us," Vigneault said.

Added Alexandre Burrows: "If he goes to the box, we've got to make them pay every time. If he plays or he doesn't, that's out of our focus, really."

Vancouver went 3-for-7 with the man-advantage in Game 2, with nine shots on goal.

This is the third straight year Eager has faced the Canucks in the playoffs. He was with the Blackhawks the last two years when they beat Vancouver in the conference semifinals.

Despite the 20 minutes in penalties, Eager scored his first goal of the playoffs, with 2:33 remaining in the third Wednesday.

"He's a good player for them," said Canucks forward Maxim Lapierre. "He’s finishing his checks. He's pretty solid out there, and if he takes a penalty we're going to have to be good on the power play. If he takes a shot at our good player, we're going to do the same thing at their player. This is playoff hockey and we're going to respond."

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