The Vancouver Canucks will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high four games when they welcome the Anaheim Ducks for tonight's matchup at General Motors Place.
The Canucks have won three straight at the start of an eight-game homestand, the club's longest residency of the season. It marks the third time this year that Vancouver has strung together three victories, but the club hasn't won four in a row since March 13-19 of last season.
Vancouver, which is tied for ninth in the West with 38 points, posted its most recent win Monday night against Los Angeles. Sami Salo scored the eventual game-winner late in the first period, as the Canucks took down the Kings, 3-1, to end LA's four-game winning streak.
Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond each added a goal and an assist for the Canucks, while Roberto Luongo made 24 saves for the victors.
"We can't be too happy yet. We are still out of the playoffs and some teams behind us are trying to catch us. We just have to forget about tonight and start thinking about the next game," Salo said.
The Canucks are 13-4-0 as the host this season and can make up some ground in the conference standings if they stay hot on home ice.
Anaheim is last in the West with 31 points, but the Ducks have won two of their last three and have posted points in five straight contests (2-0-3).
The Ducks should be well-rested tonight as they last played on Saturday when they notched a victory in Columbus. Bobby Ryan scored the eventual game- winning goal late in the second period and also dished out an assist to help lead Anaheim to the 3-1 win at Nationwide Arena.
The victory ended Anaheim's nine-game road losing streak. The Ducks, who are just 3-5-5 as the guest this year, won for the first time as the visitor since beating the Philadelphia Flyers on October 10.
Corey Perry and Dan Sexton also scored for the Ducks, while Jonas Hiller turned aside 35-of-36 shot.
In other news, Joffrey Lupul is expected to miss his third straight game for the Ducks tonight with an unspecified leg injury.
The Ducks destroyed Vancouver, 7-2, when the clubs met in Anaheim on October 30. Anaheim has taken three straight in the series overall and has also tasted victory in seven of its last 10 trips to B.C.
