Oilers at Canucks
THE STORY: One day after knocking off one division leader, the Edmonton Oilers get the chance to duplicate the feat when they visit the Northwest Division-leading Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Despite scoring fewer than three goals for the eighth consecutive game, Edmonton ended a three-game losing streak Monday with a shootout victory over the San Jose Sharks, who sit atop the Pacific. However, the Oilers have dropped five straight on the road and six of seven visits to Vancouver. The Canucks have won seven of their last 11 contests at Rogers Arena but are only 1-1-1 on their six-game homestand.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, RS West (Edmonton), RS Pacific (Vancouver)
ABOUT THE OILERS (18-26-4): Taylor Hall proved his comeback from a facial laceration was not premature as he scored the decisive shootout goal against San Jose on Monday. It was the second game back for Hall, who missed two contests with a cut on his forehead that needed 30 stitches to close. All three of Sunday's recalls from Oklahoma City of the American Hockey League were in the lineup versus the Sharks. Defenseman Taylor Chorney and forwards Lennart Petrell and Teemu Hartikainen combined for one shot on goal. The trio has totaled three goals and three assists, all by Petrell, in 40 games this season.
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (29-15-4): Defenseman Sami Salo is expected back in the lineup Tuesday after missing six games with a concussion. "Sami is good to go," coach Alain Vigneault said. "He passed all the protocol and has been practicing on his own for four straight days and practiced with the team (Monday)." Salo, who has registered six goals and 10 assists in 38 contests this season, suffered the concussion on a hit by Boston's Brad Marchand on Jan. 7. To make room for Salo, Vancouver assigned Chris Tanev to Chicago of the AHL. Tanev, who appeared in three games with the club in October, was recalled Wednesday and played more than 15 1/2 minutes in Saturday's victory over San Jose. Roberto Luongo became the franchise leader by notching his 212th victory Saturday. The former captain had been tied with Kirk McLean.
OVERTIME:
1. While Vancouver has won 41 of its last 55 divisional games, Edmonton has lost 40 of 55 against its Northwest rivals.
2. Even with Monday's victory, the Oilers have lost eight of their last 10 overall contests.