Canucks at Predators
THE STORY: The Vancouver Canucks have had their way with Pekka Rinne this season. They are unlikely to continue that trend, though, as Rinne goes for his 12th consecutive victory when his Nashville Predators host Vancouver on Tuesday. The Canucks chased Rinne in both previous meetings, scoring four goals on 16 shots in the first period of a 5-1 win on Oct. 20 and tallying five times on 18 shots in a 6-5 loss on Dec. 1 - both at Rogers Arena. Rinne has been nearly unbeatable since the second matchup, winning 20 of 23 decisions. The Finn has allowed more than two goals only once during his current franchise-record winning streak and more than three only four times in his last 24 starts.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, RS Pacific (Canucks), FS Tennessee (Predators)
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (32-15-5): Vancouver, which began its four-game road trip with a shootout win over Colorado on Saturday, has earned at least one point in each of its last six contests (4-0-2). The club carries a three-game road winning streak into Nashville, where it has won four straight. Ryan Kesler has recorded a point in five consecutive games and a goal in each of his last three. Chris Higgins has missed two straight contests with the flu and is questionable for Tuesday's match.
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (32-17-4): Nashville has been a force at Bridgestone Arena, winning each of its last six home games and 13 of 15. It also is riding a seven-game winning streak against Northwest Division teams. Mike Fisher has been on a torrid pace, scoring six goals over his last five contests. He had tallied five times in three matches and notched at least one point in five straight before being kept off the scoresheet in a loss at Philadelphia on Feb. 2 but got back on track with his 15th goal in Saturday's win over St. Louis.
OVERTIME:
1. Vancouver has gone beyond regulation in four consecutive games and seven of its last nine.
2. Both teams are in the top five in the league as the Canucks lead the Northwest Division with 69 points and the Predators occupy second in the Central with 68. They own the most potent power plays in the NHL, Vancouver ranking first with a 22.3 percent success rate and Nashville right behind at 22.2 percent.