Vancouver Canucks take on the Colorado Avalanche live on Wednesday night in NHL Western Conference action at 10:00 PM ET.
The Vancouver Canucks have been the best regular season team in the Western Conference over the past two seasons, but the lockout-shortened schedule hasn't been too kind to the squad yet.
The Canucks are coming off of two straight tough losses and will try to rebound against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night in Vancouver. The Canucks have dominated the Avalanche of late, earning a point in 18 straight games while winning seven games at home against the team in a row.
Vancouver has been able to build leads this season, but has had issues holding them. The team had multiple goal leads in four contests, with three of those games ending in shutouts, meaning the other team got a point as well. The toughest pill to swallow was against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, who scored the tying goal in game with 43.2 seconds left before winning the game 4-3.
After losing two in a row, the Canucks will need to regroup and play more consistently to make the playoffs. Points will be scarce through the season considering there are only 48 games to be played.
"It's a short year, and you want to bank as many points as you can," said Robert Luongo, who made 26 saves in losing his second shootout. "We were in control and it's disappointing."
Vancouver is not immune to starting slow though, as last year the team went 2-3-1 before winning the Presidents' Trophy for a second straight season.
"We've got to learn how to close these games. We've been letting teams back," center Henrik Sedin said. "I think in the big picture we'll be a good team (in those situations), so we've got to be strong in those areas in the last few minutes of the game."
Colorado appears to be the perfect team for Vancouver to face at this moment. The Canucks are 15-0-2 in the last 17 matchups against the Avalanche and have a big advantage over Colorado on power plays. The Canucks have gone 0 for 10 on the power play in their last two games, but started off much better and will be facing a squad that is struggling greatly on special teams through the early part of schedule.
The Avalanche rank 29th in power play percentage and 24th in penalty kill percentage, killing just 71 percent through the season so far. Colorado allowed a season-high four power play goals in a 4-1 loss to Edmonton and now has dropped two of four games on this road trip after being blanked 4-0 by San Jose on Saturday.
"We put ourselves in short-handed situations again," coach Joe Sacco said. "We've allowed seven power-play goals now in two games. That's not good enough. The overall game was not good enough as well. We have to pick it up on our special teams, there is no question. And one goal in two games isn't going to get you many points."
P.A. Parenteau is leading the team with three goals, but the team has converted only 1 of 15 chances on the power play.
"We have to figure out (special teams) because I don't think we've played that bad of a game 5-on-5," Parenteau said.
Luongo has been solid against Colorado over the past 12 games, winning 10 of them, but it is likely that Cory Schneider will be in net on Wednesday night. According to the Associated Press, Schneider is 4-0-0 with a 0.65 GAA in his last five appearances -- four starts -- versus Colorado. He hasn't allowed a goal in his last 155-plus minutes facing the Avalanche, including a 43-save, 1-0 victory in the most recent meeting March 28.
Daniel Sedin is leading the Canucks in assists and points, while Matt Duchene is tops for the Avalanche. Colorado has struggled on the road this season, going 0-3-0, including two division losses. The Canucks have been equally good/bad at home and on the road, going 1-1-1 in both situations.
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