Canucks at Avalanche
THE STORY: The Vancouver Canucks can clinch their fourth consecutive Northwest Division title on Saturday should they secure at least one point against the Colorado Avalanche. Accomplishing that feat could prove to be easy, considering the Canucks have collected a point in each of their last 15 contests versus the Avalanche. Colorado, which is tied for eighth place in the Western Conference, has an NHL-low six games remaining on its schedule.
TV: 10 p.m., CBC, ALT
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (44-21-9): Vancouver recorded just its third win in nine games (3-5-1) when it recorded a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday. Missing from that contest was Daniel Sedin, who was blasted by the elbow of Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith. While the reigning Art Trophy winner remains in Vancouver undergoing evaluation, coach Alain Vigneault's team is trying to work out its scoring woes. The Canucks have scored just three times in the first three contests of their four-game road trip.
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (40-31-5): Joe Sacco's club fell into an early deficit en route to dropping a 3-2 decision to Phoenix on Thursday. The setback was the first in regulation for Colorado in seven games (5-1-1). Paul Stastny scored for the third straight game to secure his fifth 20-goal season in six campaigns. Stastny has an assist in three contests versus Vancouver this season.
OVERTIME:
1. Vancouver has outscored Colorado by a 15-3 margin en route to winning all four meetings this season. The Northwest Division rivals will play the final game of the set on Wednesday in British Columbia.
2. Colorado G Semyon Varlamov is expected to start the team's remaining games, but is 0-4-0 with a 3.40 goals-against average in his career versus Vancouver.