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Canucks-Oilers Preview

Oct 18, 2009 - 6:24 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Vancouver (3-4-0) at Edmonton (4-2-1), 9:00 p.m. EDT

Mikael Samuelsson is beginning to get comfortable with Vancouver's offense. Perhaps the Canucks can follow suit and settle down on the road.

With Samuelsson leading the way, the Canucks look to win on the road for the first time this season as they face the Northwest Division rival Edmonton Oilers on Monday night.

Samuelsson, who signed a signed a three-year, $7.5 million free-agent contract in July after four seasons in Detroit, has three goals in his last four games. He scored the go-ahead goal on a rebound just as a power play expired 3:49 into the third period as Vancouver (3-4-0) beat Minnesota 2-1 on Saturday night.

Samuelsson has four goals and three assists while leading the Canucks with 33 shots.

"I feel more comfortable each game I play," he said. "Even if I don't score goals I try, like everybody else, to do good things out there. It's not obviously all about goal scoring, but it's nice to see (pucks go in)."

The right wing has two goals in three road games, but Vancouver has lost all off of those contests while getting outscored 13-6.

Vancouver plays two straight road games, including a matchup with Chicago on Wednesday night, before returning home for three contests.

A matchup at Edmonton may not help the Canucks' cause. Vancouver has lost four of its last six road games (2-2-2) versus the Oilers (4-2-1) after winning the previous four.

But the Canucks enter this contest having won three of their last four after an 0-3 start. They've been able to bounce back despite injuries to forwards Daniel Sedin (foot), Pavol Demitra (shoulder) and defenseman Sami Salo (knee).

"It takes some time," said Samuelsson, who has one goal in seven road games against Edmonton.

The Oilers also had to contend with injuries in their last contest, beating the Wild 5-2 on Friday without forward Ales Hemsky (flu). Defensemen Sheldon Souray and Steve Staios, meanwhile, continue to miss time due to concussions.

Hemsky, who has one goal and four assists in six games, shouldn't miss any more time. Souray and Staios, though, have both missed four games and their status is less certain.

Despite its banged-up blue line, Edmonton has won three of its last four.

The Oilers have been led by Dustin Penner and Gilbert Brule, who have combined for nine of the team's 28 goals. Both players scored twice against Minnesota.

"Penner is big and strong and holding the puck well," coach Pat Quinn said. "He's got a good skill level, he's not just a big man. He gave some good second efforts tonight. He is doing lots of little things really well.

"Brule competes hard and he is really sharp around the net. We need to see that regularly on a consistent basis from him and we have to this point."

Brule, the sixth overall pick in the 2005 draft, has four goals and three assists in seven games. He's already 12 points shy of his career high, set in 78 games during the 2006-07 season.

Penner, who has a team-high nine points (five goals and four assists), has been held off the scoresheet in his last two games against the Canucks. Vancouver and Edmonton tied last season's series 3-3-0.