The Vancouver Canucks will try to extend their overall nine-game point streak and record their eighth win in their last 10 games versus the Nashville Predators, as the two clubs square off tonight at GM Place.
Though they had a four-game winning streak end with Saturday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Flames, the Canucks are still 7-0-2 in their last nine games. They did fall one point behind Calgary for first place in the Northwest Division and are tied for fifth in the Western Conference with 56 points.
Kyle Wellwood and Mason Raymond both scored in Saturday's shootout, but Roberto Luongo was beaten by all three of the Calgary skaters he faced after making 38 saves in regulation and overtime.
"It's a tough way to lose," Luongo said. "I'd like to have made at least one or two saves there in the shootout."
Mikael Samuelsson scored to increase his point streak to seven games (5 goals, 2 assists), while Daniel Sedin also scored to give him a five-game point streak (3g, 6a). Henrik Sedin added an assist, giving him five goals and 13 helpers over a nine-game points run and an NHL-leading 62 points on the season.
Alexandre Burrows, meanwhile, failed in his bid to become the first NHL player to notch three consecutive hat tricks, but he did tally an assist to give him seven goals and two assists over his last five games.
Vancouver was without a pair of defenseman in Saturday's contest, as both Sami Salo (cut above left eye) and Aaron Rome (head/facial laceration) were out. Both players are again questionable for tonight.
The Canucks wrap a four-game homestand tonight and are 2-0-1 thus far on the stand. They are also 4-0-1 in their last five home games overall and 18-6-1 as the host this season.
Vancouver has won three of four and four of its last six at home versus Nashville, including a 4-1 triumph on December 22 in which the Sedin twins each notched a goal and two assists. That also came two weeks after the Predators recorded a 4-2 home win of their own over the Canucks.
Patric Hornqvist has scored in both games versus the Canucks this year and was one of two goal scorers in Saturday's 3-2 loss to Anaheim. Hornqvist's goal was his fourth power-play tally in three games and 11th goal overall in his last 13 contests.
Martin Erat, meanwhile, returned from a four-game absence due to a knee injury to notch the other goal. He has 11 tallies and eight assists in his last 15 games, including a hat trick versus the Canucks on December 8 in the home win.
"It felt a little strange the first two periods," Erat said after the Anaheim game. "It was really fast. I have to play much better."
Pekka Rinne gave up three goals on 21 shots in Saturday's loss to Anaheim as Nashville ended a four-game homestand at 2-2-0. The Predators play seven of their next eight on the road, including each of the next three as they tour western Canada. They have won six of their last nine as the guest and are 12-7-2 on the road this season.
Nashville, seventh in the West with 55 points, did play without Jason Arnott on Saturday due to an upper-body injury, while Joel Ward (wrist) and Francis Bouillon (flu-like symptoms) are both questionable for tonight.
