COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ryan Kesler scored two goals and goaltender Curtis Sanfordhad a solid game in his first start of the season to lead the Vancouver Canuckspast the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 on Sunday night.

Markus Naslund and Kevin Bieksa added goals for the Canucks, who had losttheir last two games. They won despite being outshot 20-0 during one lengthyspan.

Naslund’s goal gave the Canucks some breathing room. Ahead 2-1 and hangingon in the third period, Naslund controlled the puck as he skated down the rightwing and then angled sharply toward the high slot, waiting patiently until heripped a hard wrist shot high into the corner of the net.

Kesler, who played college hockey at Ohio State, stole the puck fromColumbus’ Nikolai Zherdev and scored on a shorthanded empty-netter after theBlue Jackets pulled their goaltender for a two-man advantage with just over aminute remaining.

Kesler stretched his points streak to three games — he had three assists inVancouver’s last two games — when he scored on a wrister from the left circle onthe Canucks’ first shot, 5:39 in. It was just a straightforward rush, with noone in front of the goal, yet it eluded Columbus goaltender Pascal Leclaire.

Kesler’s goal ended Leclaire’s home scoreless streak at 156:01. Leclaire,who came into this season with just one career shutout, has three this seasonincluding two in his only previous starts at home.

Vancouver made it 2-0 on its first power play, with Biekstra scoring on aone-timer from the left dot. His shot found its way through five players infront of the net.

Columbus hadn’t given up two goals in the first period in its first sevengames.

Sanford, getting his first start in relief of Roberto Luongo, had given upfour goals in just 39 minutes in his only appearance this season. But he made anumber of nice glove saves on the Blue Jackets, who outshot the Canucks 36-19.

The Canucks failed to even get a shot on goal in the second period, duringwhich Columbus outshot them 14-0. It matched the fewest shots ever in a periodby the Canucks and was the second time that a Blue Jackets opponent failed toget off a shot in a period.

Still, the Blue Jackets only scored one goal despite having six power-playchances and finished 1 for 10 with a man advantage. Vancouver was 1 for 6.

Rick Nash ran his goal streak to three games when he netted his own reboundduring a 5-on-3 at the 2:38 mark of the second period. David Vyborny, scorelesssince the opener, picked up the primary assist on a pass from the right cornerthat Nash jammed at Sanford. After Sanford stopped that, Nash followed up forhis fifth goal.

Despite the loss, Columbus’ 3-3-1 start is its best ever through sevengames.

Notes

The Canucks had gone without a shot in a period three previous times,most recently the opening period on Jan. 18, 2007, at Ottawa. … Columbuskilled its first 17 penalties at home this season until Bieksa’s goal. …Vancouver C Trevor Linden, without a point in five games, still needs one assistto match the Vancouver club record of 411, held by Stan Smyl.