• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Senators host Canucks in battle of surging teams

Jan 18, 2007 - 4:00 PM Vancouver (26-19-1) at Ottawa (27-19-2) 7:30 pm EST

OTTAWA (Ticker) -- Although they have come a long way since a sluggish start, the Ottawa Senators still have ground to make up.

Ottawa can extend its winning streak to six games and raise its record to 11-1-1 since December 23 when it hosts the surging Vancouver Canucks on Thursday in their lone meeting of the season.

Coming off a 52-win, 113-point campaign last season, Ottawa opened this season 6-10-1 and spent some time in last place in the Northeast Division. The Senators' recent strong performances have moved them within 12 points of the first-place Buffalo Sabres.

Ottawa is coming off Tuesday's 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals. Mike Comrie scored twice and Daniel Aldredsson added a goal and an assist for the Senators, who have 30 tallies in their last five contests.

Vancouver has won nine of its last 10 games and its last five on the road. The Canucks have not taken six in a row away from home since an eight-game stretch from December 20, 2003-January 13, 2004.

One of the primary reasons for Vancouver's recent successful run is goaltender Roberto Luongo, who will play in Wednesday's All-Star game. He has won his last five road starts with a 1.20 goals-against average.

Luongo stopped 30 shots for his 30th career shutour for the Canucks in Tuesday's 4-0 triumph over the Montreal Canadiens. Ryan Kesler had a goal and two assists for Vancouver, which is 21-5-1 when scoring first.