Canucks try to keep streak alive
Sports Network
12/17/2003
(Sports Network) - The Vancouver Canucks try to extend their unbeaten streak to six games tonight when they visit the Dallas Stars at AmericanAirlines Center.
Vancouver is 3-0-1 during its run and leads the Northwest Division with 41 points -- three ahead of second-place Colorado.
On Tuesday, Brendan Morrison scored on a backhand shot 1:19 into overtime to lift Vancouver to a 2-1 win over Nashville at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. Mattias Ohlund also scored and Dan Cloutier stopped 29 of 30 shots for the Canucks, who have just one loss in their last nine (5-1-3).
Morrison ended Vancouver's fifth straight overtime game with his 12th goal. He skated through the left faceoff circle and fired a shot towards the net. Todd Bertuzzi fed the puck to Morrison, then skated in front of the net -- and a Predators defender -- to help set up the goal and screen goaltender Tomas Vokoun.
Cloutier returned to the lineup after missing four games with a groin injury.
Vancouver, 8-5-2-2 on the road, will close out its current road trip Thursday in Edmonton.
Dallas, meanwhile, is only 1-5-1 in its last seven tries, including a 1-0-1 mark in a home-and-home with Chicago over the weekend. On Sunday, Marty Turco and Michael Leighton combined to make 60 saves, as the Stars and Blackhawks skated to a 1-1 tie at the United Center.
Turco had 29 saves in the game, while Sergei Zubov tallied the game-tying goal for Dallas in the second period. The Stars' lone victory during their recent lull came against Chicago on Friday night.
The Stars enter tonight's action last in the Pacific Division with 28 points -- one behind Phoenix and Anaheim, who are tied for third. Dallas, 4-1-2 in its last seven home games, will open a three-game road trip Friday in Florida.
Dallas went 3-1 against Vancouver last season and has won five of the last seven meetings. The Canucks, however, have won three of their last for in Big D.
Cheers,
Aquaman