Daniel Sedin's second goal of the game, with 3:42 left in the first, tied the game at 2. He again teamed with brother Henrik, who sent the puck caroming off the boards in the left corner of the Detroit zone to Daniel, who was cutting in off left wing. Daniel Sedin picked up the puck and beat Howard for his seventh goal of the season.

Higgins capitalized on Justin Abdelkader's turnover in his own zone to give the Canucks the lead with 1:34 left in the first period. Higgins put in a backhand shot on a wrap-around for his fourth goal of the year.

NOTES: Detroit goalie Jonas Gustavsson wasn't available because of a sore groin. Thomas McCollum was called up from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League to back up Howard. ... Vancouver defenseman Kevin Bieksa didn't play because of a groin injury, and Canucks left wing David Booth missed the game because of an illness. ... Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey missed his second game due to a sore left ankle. ... It was the second game in two nights for Detroit, which beat Nashville 4-0 at Joe Louis Arena on Saturday night. ... Vancouver center Ryan Kesler is from the Detroit suburb of Livonia.