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Predators-Canucks Preview

Jan 10, 2010 - 8:44 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Nashville (26-16-3) at Vancouver (27-16-2), 10:30 p.m. EDT

The Vancouver Canucks have lost their share of first place in the Northwest Division, but they have no reason to believe they're going to fall out of the race any time soon.

After a tough division loss, the Canucks look to extend a nine-game point streak in a matchup with the slumping Nashville Predators on Monday night.

Vancouver (27-16-2) has two defeats in its last nine games (7-0-2). It hasn't lost in regulation since a 3-1 defeat against St. Louis on Dec. 20.

The Canucks, though, fell 3-2 to Calgary in a shootout Saturday night, dropping one point behind the Flames in the Northwest. Vancouver and Calgary entered that contest in a tie for first place.

It was a tough game offensively for the Canucks, who scored 11 goals in their previous two games. They still had some bright spots, though, with Daniel Sedin and Mikael Samuelsson scoring in regulation.

Henrik Sedin's assist on his brother's goal extended his point streak to nine games (five goals, 13 assists). He has an NHL-best 62 points (20 goals, 42 assists), including a goal and four assists in two games versus the Predators (26-16-3).

Vancouver and Nashville have each held home ice in this season's series.

Canucks right wing Samuelsson has been held without a point in six of seven games against the Predators, but has a seven-game point streak (five goals, two assists) since reacting angrily to being left off the Swedish Olympic team.

Vancouver left wing Alex Burrows, meanwhile, failed in his attempt to become the first player to score three goals in three straight games, but extended his point streak to five games (seven goals, two assists) with an assist.

"The streak wasn't going to keep going forever," Burrows said.

Nashville, which has lost two of three after winning its previous three, may be without captain Jason Arnott for a second straight game. He sat out the Predators' 3-2 loss to Anaheim on Saturday night due to an upper-body injury.

"It's always tough to produce if one of our top scorers goes down," Nashville right wing Martin Erat said. "It's always tough to make plays but everybody just has to step up and play better."

Erat scored after missing four games with a sprained knee. He has 11 goals and eight assists in his last 15 games.

The veteran right wing had a season-high four points with a hat trick and an assist in Nashville's 4-2 win over Vancouver on Dec. 8. It was his second career hat trick.

Erat has 15 goals this season, three on the road. The Predators are opening a three-game trip that includes matchups with Edmonton and Calgary.

"A big road trip in Canada ... if we can get the quick start and play for 60 minutes, I think we are going to get some points there," Nashville right wing Patric Hornqvist said.

Hornqvist, playing his first full season, has four goals and an assist in his last three contests.