Flames at Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks attempt to expand their lead in the Northwest Division when they host the road-challenged Calgary Flames on Saturday. Vancouver owns a two-point lead in the division over the Minnesota Wild thanks in part to a 7-3-0 record over its last 10 games. The Canucks halted a brief two-game losing streak Thursday by beginning their three-game homestand with a 4-0 triumph over the Northwest-rival Edmonton Oilers.
Calgary had its road winless streak reach 12 games with a 2-1 setback to the Sharks in San Jose on Friday. Mikael Backlund scored a power-play goal in the first period and Miikka Kiprusoff was stellar through two sessions before the Sharks rallied for two goals in the third. The Flames, who conclude their three-game trip Monday against the Colorado Avalanche, are 0-11-1 on the road since posting a 4-3 win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Feb. 17.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, NHL Network, CBC
ABOUT THE FLAMES (13-19-4): Since trading long-time captain Jarome Iginla to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary has gone 0-4-0 and been outscored 20-8 in the process. Defenseman Mark Giordano missed Friday's game to be with his wife for the birth of the couple's first child. Fellow blue-liner Derek Smith was sidelined with a lower-body injury. Right wing Lee Stempniak's next point will be his 300th in the NHL. Defenseman Dennis Wideman needs one assist for 200 in his career.
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (20-11-6): Vancouver turned the tables on the Oilers, avenging a 4-0 loss in Edmonton on March 30. Derek Roy made his debut with the Canucks after being acquired from the Dallas Stars at Wednesday's trade deadline and recorded an assist. Left wing Nicklas Jensen was assigned to Chicago of the American Hockey League. The 20-year-old Dane made his NHL debut Monday against the San Jose Sharks and also played against Edmonton on Thursday without registering a point.
OVERTIME
1. The Canucks wrap up their three-game homestand Monday against Phoenix.
2. Calgary has won only one of its last six visits to Vancouver.
3. The home team has won each of the last six games in the all-time series.
PREDICTION: Canucks 6, Flames 3