GAME: Detroit Red Wings (26-13-7-2) at Vancouver Canucks (28-15-5-0).
The Vancouver Canucks try for their third win in as many meetings with Detroit this season when they face the Red Wings in the opener of a four-game homestand.
The rising Canucks have changed their fortunes against the Red Wings since the start of last season's playoffs. Vancouver had just one win in its previous 21 games against Detroit (1-16-4) before the teams met in the first round, but the Canucks won the first two games at Joe Louis Arena before falling in six games.
This season, Vancouver has dominated the series through two games, winning both contests by 4-1 scores. The Canucks defeated the Red Wings on Sunday in Detroit, their first regular-season victory there in nearly six years.
The clubs close out the series Feb. 18 at Joe Louis Arena.
The Canucks have climbed to the top of the Northwest Division and appear determined to compete with Detroit for the Western Conference title. Vancouver will be looking to get back on track after seeing its two-game winning streak snapped Tuesday night in a 3-2 loss to the Nashville Predators.
Todd Bertuzzi scored two third-period goals, but the Canucks couldn't climb out of a 3-0 hole.
``We battled pretty hard,'' Vancouver coach Marc Crawford said. ``We should have skated a little harder. Give Nashville credit. They skated very hard. We had opportunities. We just didn't get it done.''
The defending Stanley Cup champion Red Wings have been unable to find any consistency this month, losing 4-3 in overtime to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night for their second straight loss. Prior to the defeat, Detroit had alternated a win with a loss for 10 straight games.
Anson Carter scored twice, and Eric Brewer's goal 1:42 into the extra period gave the injury-riddled Oilers five of a possible six points in the season series with the Red Wings so far.
``I don't think we deserved the point,'' said Igor Larionov, who had one of the Red Wings' goals.
Detroit's Brett Hull scored his 699th career goal, and will try to join Wayne Gretzky (894), Gordie Howe (801), Marcel Dionne (731), Phil Esposito (717) and Mike Gartner (708) in the 700 club Friday night.
Detroit's recent struggles may be due in part to a grueling stretch of 10 road games in 12 days. On their current four-game trip, the Wings headed west to Vancouver after playing Edmonton, then will return to Alberta to face Calgary on Saturday night. They conclude the trip -- and the 12-game stretch -- at New Jersey on Tuesday.
STANDINGS (through Jan. 22): Red Wings - 61 points, 1st place (tied), Central Division. Canucks - 61 points, 1st place, Pacific Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Red Wings - Hull, 20 goals; Nicklas Lidstrom, 26 assists; Sergei Fedorov, 41 points; Sean Avery, 103 PIM. Canucks - Markus Naslund, 32 goals and 61 points; Naslund and Brendan Morrison, 29 assists; Bertuzzi, 100 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through Jan. 22): Red Wings - Power play: 18.7 percent (37 for 198), 8th in NHL. Penalty killing: 85.2 percent (195 for 229), 10th. Canucks - Power play: 20.2 percent (51 for 252), 4th. Penalty killing: 85.8 percent (206 for 240), 8th.
GOALTENDERS: Red Wings - Curtis Joseph (19-12-5, 3 SO, 2.59 GAA); Manny Legace (7-3-2, 1.92). Canucks - Dan Cloutier (24-12-3, 1, 2.48); Peter Skudra (4-3-2, 2.49).
SEASON SERIES: Canucks, 2-0.
LAST MEETING: Sunday; Canucks, 4-1. At Detroit, Cloutier made 30 saves and got help as five more Red Wings shots hit either a post or the crossbar.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS
Red Wings - 11-8-4-1 on the road; Canucks - 13-8-3-0 at home.
2002-2003 SEASON SERIES
Nov. 22 at Van VAN 4 DET 1
Jan. 19 at Det VAN 4 DET 1
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) -- The Detroit Red Wings try to notch their first victory of the season against the Vancouver Canucks when the teams meet on Friday.
Detroit rallied from a two games to none deficit to defeat Vancouver in six games in the Western Conference quarterfinals a year ago. But the Canucks have posted a pair of wins over the Red Wings this season, including Sunday's 4-1 triumph.
Trent Klatt and defenseman Bryan Allen each scored first-period goals and Henrik Sedin had a pair of assists for Vancouver. Dan Cloutier made 30 saves and helped the Canucks kill off all four of Detroit's power plays.
Tomas Holmstrom scored the lone goal for Detroit, which also had trouble finding the net in a 4-1 defeat on November 22. Todd Bertuzzi had a goal and an assist and Klatt also scored.
Detroit has struggled recently and enters after a 4-3 overtime loss at Edmonton on Wednesday. Veterans Brett Hull and Igor Larionov had power-play goals.
The Red Wings are just 4-5-0-1 this month.
Vancouver is beginning a four-game homestand after a disappointing 3-2 loss at Nashville on Tuesday. Bertuzzi's two goals in the third period were not enough to rally the Canucks from a three-goal deficit.
The Canucks have won four of their last five home games.