Canucks take on Flames

Canucks visit Flames for important division battle
The Sports Network

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=267473&lid=headline&lpos=secStory_main

(Sports Network) - The Vancouver Canucks begin a four-game road trip tonight, as they visit the first-place Calgary Flames for a Northwest Division battle at Pengrowth Saddledome.

Vancouver won't leave Canada on this trek, as it will also visit Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal on the swing. First, the Canucks will try to close the gap a bit in the division standings as they trail the Flames by nine points for the top spot.

The Canucks, who are 13-10-4 on the road this year, are also in a three-way tie with Edmonton and Columbus for the final three playoff spots in the Western Conference. All three clubs trail fifth-seeded Dallas by a single point.

Vancouver has won five of its last six games overall, including Sunday's 4-2 win over Montreal. Henrik and Daniel Sedin each recorded a goal and an assist in the victory.

Daniel Sedin's tally was the 172nd of his career, moving him into 10th place on the franchise's all-time list. Alexander Edler and Ryan Kesler also scored, while Roberto Luongo made 25 saves to earn the victory.

Vancouver won its first two matchups with Calgary this year, outscoring the club by an 11-4 margin. However, the Flames have rebounded with back-to-back wins over the Canucks and have also won five of the last eight in the series.

Daniel Sedin leads the Canucks, losers in three of their last four in Calgary, in scoring this year versus the Flames with six points off three goals and three assists. Henrik has a goal and four helpers against them, while Luongo has won both of his starts this year in the series.

Calgary netminder Miikka Kiprusoff has been in net for all four games of the season series this year, going 2-1-1 with a 3.69 goals against average. Mike Cammalleri has four goals and an assist versus the Canucks this year, while Daymond Langkow and Dion Phaneuf have donated four points each.

Cammalleri had two assists in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Phoenix Coyotes, while Matthew Lombardi had two goals and a helper. Lombardi was named the NHL's second star of the week on Monday for notching three goals and four assists over his last four games.

Cory Sarich had a goal and two assists for the Flames, who have won three of four (3-0-1). Curtis Glencross, Langkow and Adrian Aucoin also scored for Calgary. Todd Bertuzzi ended with four assists and Kiprusoff made 32 saves.

Calgary is 20-7-3 at home this year and has won four of its last six at Pengrowth Saddledome.