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Canucks-Avalanche Preview

Nov 13, 2009 - 6:48 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Vancouver (10-10-0) at Colorado (12-4-3), 10:00 p.m. EDT

The Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks traded shutouts in their first two meetings this season. If it happens again, chances are it will be the Canucks on the short end based on their recent production.

Vancouver looks to end a three-game slide as it tries to get its offense untracked in Colorado, where the Avalanche are seeking to avoid a third straight loss Saturday night.

Colorado (12-4-3) got 35 saves from Craig Anderson in a 3-0 home win over Vancouver (10-10-0) on Oct. 3. The Canucks returned the favor Nov. 1 with a 3-0 home victory of their own with backup goaltender Andrew Raycroft stopping 18 shots.

It's unclear who will be in net for Vancouver. Roberto Luongo returned Thursday in his first action since Oct. 27 and made 26 saves in a 3-1 loss at Detroit. Luongo missed two weeks with a broken rib.

"I felt like my timing was good and I was able to read the play," he said.

The loss marked the third straight in which Vancouver managed one goal. The offensive struggles began after the Canucks opened this five-game trip with a 5-2 win over Minnesota on Nov. 5.

Mikael Samuelsson, whose eight goals have him tied for second place on the club, has no points on the road trip.

Vancouver held a 15-5 edge in shots in the first period Wednesday but did not score until Mason Raymond's goal in the second.

"We played a good road game," Luongo said. "Unfortunately, we don't have much to show for it."

Luongo is 3-8 with a 2.78 goals-against average in 11 career games at the Pepsi Center.

The Avalanche are 6-1 home, losing their last game in Denver to Edmonton 5-3 on Sunday. They lost again, 3-2 in a shootout at Chicago on Wednesday.

Colorado took a 2-1 lead into the third period before Chicago used a 15-3 edge in shots to tie the contest.

"They were down by a goal and came out flying in the third," Anderson said. "We did what we could to hold it off and managed to get a point."

Anderson began 9-1-2 with a 1.97 GAA in his first 12 starts before going 2-3-1 with a 2.94 GAA in his next six. His shutout of the Canucks last month is his only victory in seven starts against them.

Rookie center Ryan O'Reilly has 14 points to tie him for third place on Colorado, but failed to score in the consecutive losses. O'Reilly has also not registered a point against Vancouver.

Right wing Milan Hejduk has missed the last two games with a back injury and his status is uncertain.