VANCOUVER -- One of Mike Gilliss final acts as Canucks general manager was to end the Roberto Luongo saga once and for all in Vancouver by trading the veteran goalie to the Florida Panthers last month. Cheap Oilers Jerseys . And while the recently fired Gillis wont be around to reap any potential benefit from deal, Vancouver got its first real glimpse this week at one of the key pieces that came back the other way. Jacob Markstrom, acquired along with forward Shawn Matthias as part of the deal that sent Luongo back to his former team, allowed three goals on 27 shots in a solid first start with the Canucks as Vancouver fell 4-2 to the red-hot Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night. The American Hockey Leagues goalie of the month for February while he was still a member of the Panthers organization, Markstrom watched from the bench for 15 straight games as Vancouver rode fellow Swede Eddie Lack in a failed attempt to make a run at the playoffs. After the Canucks were eliminated from contention for the first time in six years, head coach John Tortorella indicated that youngsters would play in the teams final three games and that Markstrom would get his chance to spell Lack, who started 19 in a row following the Olympic break. "I thought (Markstrom), with the amount of work hes done and the lack of play ... I thought he was really good, as far as the technical part that were trying to work on with him," Tortorella said after Thursdays game. That work the Canucks have been doing with Markstrom has included having him play deeper in his crease, a style preached by goalie coach Rollie Melanson. "A lot of the stuff Ive been working with Rollie with felt pretty good out there," said Markstrom, whose only other game with Vancouver was mop-up duty in a 6-1 loss to Dallas. "Its all repetitions and weve been doing it for quite a bit here so it felt pretty natural. "I was happy that I was playing but too bad we couldnt win." Markstrom might be untested, but he is by no means new to the NHL. The 24-year-old played parts of four seasons with the Panthers, including 23 games during the lockout-shortened 2013 campaign. In 45 career outings, Markstrom has a less-than-inspiring 11-26-5 record to go along with an .897 save percentage and a 3.20 goals-against average. But its his potential and six-foot-six frame that the Canucks were drawn to in the Luongo deal, which happened quickly after Tortorella chose to start Lack in the Heritage Classic. "I like Jacob Markstrom, I think hes a really good young talent in goal," Gillis said after the trade. "When I look at the return, obviously you want to try and get the absolute best and most that you can get, but there are circumstances that do impact and play a role in these things. And we were impacted by things that were somewhat beyond our control." At the end of last season, Vancouver had both Luongo and Cory Schneider, who was dealt to the New Jersey Devils in June, on the roster. Now with Lack and Markstrom, what had been a position of strength for the organization is now a major question mark. Tortorella decided against starting Markstrom with the Canucks still in this years playoff chase, describing his talents as "raw." "Really the biggest thing Rollie is trying to do is get him deeper (in his crease)," Tortorella said in late March. "Hes a really athletic guy, hes a big man. Hes trying to get him to play deeper. Again, I dont spend too much time asking questions, but hes trying to change his game a little bit. "Hes a young guy. We are very intrigued about his athletic ability and the size that he is and I think Ive got one of the best goaltending coaches around in dealing with these guys and teaching them." Markstrom, who is expected to play Vancouvers final two games of the season, said before Thursdays start hes fine with the Canucks trying to alter his game if it gets results. "At the end of the day its all about feeling good and stopping the puck," he said. "Youve got to go out there with a good feeling and be confident in what youre going to do and I feel really confident right now. "Im just trying to improve my game as much as I can. Obviously its a couple different steps with Rollie, what he does and what he wants his goalies to do." Meanwhile, Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa confirmed after Thursdays game that he will represent Canada at the world championship next month in Belarus. "Its an honour. I talked to (Canadian general manager) Rob Blake and he asked me if I wanted to play," said Bieksa. "I havent had many opportunities to play for my country before and I dont plan on missing the playoffs too many more years so I thought Id take this chance." Jari Kurri Jersey . Watch all the action unfold live on TSN and TSN Mobile TV at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. You can also watch the game live with the debut of Wednesday Night Hockey on TSN.ca and chat throughout the game with TSN. Matt Benning Jersey . Team officials travelled to Los Angeles on Thursday night to meet with the free agent, a person with knowledge of the plans said. http://www.oilersauthority.com/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable.LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Jonathan Quick made 28 saves in his 27th NHL shutout, Brown scored early in the third period, and the Los Angeles Kings beat Vancouver 1-0 on Monday night for their fourth win over the Canucks this season. Dustin Brown converted on a 3-on-1 rush just 24 seconds into the final period of a fight-filled game for the Kings, who earned just their third win in 10 games. In a game featuring 109 penalty minutes and a handful of fights, Brown landed the only blow that really counted. Nine days after Brown injured Vancouvers Roberto Luongo in a collision, the Kings captain knew he wore a virtual target throughout the rematch. He even had to fight Ryan Kesler, who will be his U.S. Olympic teammate in four weeks. Brown survived just fine, and he figured out an even better way to hurt the Canucks this time. "Its no different than any other game," Brown said. "They were upset about what happened with Luongo, but Ive been in that situation before." Brown isnt worried about any Sochi awkwardness after his scrap with Kesler, who dropped the gloves with Brown just 6 seconds into the second period, pulling Browns jersey over his head and whaling on him. And in typical hockey player fashion, Kesler also sees no reason they cant still be friends. "I think he knew from the opening puck-drop that he had to go with someone, with everything that happened with Roberto the last time we played," Kesler said. "We were just sticking up for our teammate. He talked a little bit and then we started to go. ... Its not awkward at all. I know him off the ice and hes a good guy, but right now on the ice hes the enemy. "He plays the game hard, I play the game hard, but Id say were friends off the ice." Neither Pacific Division rival scored in the first two periods of the Canucks second visit to Staples Center this month, but both made a steady parade to the box with a combined 103 penalty minutes — already the most in any Kings game this season — highlighted by that fight between American stars. Los Angeles stayed ahead of fourth-place Vancouver in the division standings, beating the Canucks four times in a season for thee first since the 1990-91 campaign. Paul Coffey Jersey. "We just dont like them very much, so theyre always going to get our best effort," forward Jordan Nolan said. Quick was unbeatable while making his fifth consecutive start since returning from a 24-game injury absence. The U.S. Olympic goalie posted his second shutout of the season and his first since Nov. 7, a week before he severely strained his groin. "Its usually like that when you play these guys," Quick said. "Theyre a tough team, and weve developed a bit of a rivalry over the past few years after playing them in the playoffs a few times. Thats what you expect when they come in here." Eddie Lack stopped 19 shots in his fourth straight start for the Canucks, who were shut out for the first time all season during their sixth loss in seven games. Yet Vancouver left Staples Center feeling good about its response to the physical challenge posed by the Kings, particularly Browns rambunctious game. "It was one of our best games of the year," Canucks captain Henrik Sedin said. "If you look at the way we were battling, getting in on the forecheck and everything we need to do to win games, we were right there. ... We didnt really care about (penalties) today. We went out there and did everything we could to stand up for each other and for our teammates, and we killed off those penalties anyway." The Kings had a man advantage for 8:13 in the first period after Tom Sestito was ejected for attempting to instigate a fight with Nolan, who didnt even drop his stick. Los Angeles finally broke through when Vancouvers defence ended up out of position to stop the Kings top three offensive players on a 3-on-1, with Brown batting home a rebound of Anze Kopitars shot for his 10th goal. NOTES: Los Angeles begins a five-game trip in St. Louis on Thursday, returning to Southern California for back-to-back games against Anaheim. The Kings dont play at Staples Center again until Jan. 30 while the Grammys take over the building, but they will have a "home" game at Dodger Stadium against the Ducks on Jan. 25. ... Luongo was scratched, and Joacim Eriksson backed up Lack. 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