After a come-from-behind victory against one of their biggest rivals, theVancouver Canucks hope it wont be as difficult against the struggling OttawaSenators.
Recent history says that may be the case.
On Monday night, Vancouver shoots for its seventh victory in eight meetingsagainst Ottawa, which has lost 15 of 16.
The Canucks (34-10-9) also carry a five-game winning streak into this game,but they had to rally from a one-goal deficit Friday with less than 10 minutesremaining for a 4-3 victory against Chicago. scored the tying goalwith 9:51 to go, then followed with the winner at the four-minutemark.
Daniel Sedins goal gave him 28 this season and 69 points, good for secondin the NHL. Henrik Sedin, who won the Art Ross and Hart trophies last season,added two assists and is fourth in the league with 65 points.
Now I know what it feels like to be up there, but its a good feeling whenyou are winning games too, Daniel Sedin said. Its a confident group inhere.
The Canucks improved to 10-0-4 at home since Dec. 8 and are thehighest-scoring team in the Western Conference with 177 goals. Theyve earned apoint in 30 of 33 games and lead the race for the Presidents Trophy with 77points.
To be down 3-2 with 10 minutes to go and come back and win thats huge forour confidence, Henrik Sedin said.
failed to score a point, but he had two goals in a 6-2 rout ofthe Senators on Nov. 11. Daniel Sedin had a goal and an assist, while HenrikSedin added two helpers in that victory.
Ottawa (17-28-8) has rapidly fallen out of playoff contention in the EasternConference, losing 5-3 on Saturday against the New York Islanders for its ninthstraight loss.
The Senators are 1-11-4 in their last 16 and have been outscored 64-31during that stretch. They havent lost 10 straight since an 11-game slid fromDec. 30, 1995-Jan. 25, 1996.
Our margin for error right now is zero, coach Cory Clouston said.
was pulled after allowing three goals on 13 shots in the firstperiod and replaced by who stopped 23 of 24 shots. However,Lehners elbowing penalty on Islanders goaltender as they skatedpast each other at the end of the second period led to a 5-on-3 advantage tostart the third for New York.
Lehner disagreed with the call, but the Islanders scored the winner on theensuing power play.
and scored in the first.
We need better goaltending, I dont know how else to say it, Cloustonsaid. We shouldnt have went into the (second) period tied 3-3. It should havebeen at least a one- or two-goal lead for sure. That ended up costing us in thelong run.
Ottawa hasnt won in Vancouver since March 13, 2004, losing three straightthere. The Canucks have outscored the Senators 24-11 while going 6-0-1 in thelast seven meetings.