• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Red Wings-Canucks Preview

Mar 20, 2010 - 6:38 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Detroit (34-23-13) at Vancouver (44-24-3), 10:00 p.m. EDT

With a stunning last-second goal, the Detroit Red Wings picked up one needed point in the playoff race.

Points may be difficult to come by in the next two games.

The Red Wings visit the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night in the first of consecutive matchups with division leaders.

After facing the Northwest-leading Canucks (44-24-3), Detroit (34-23-13) will return to Joe Louis Arena on Monday to open a three-game homestand with a Stanley Cup finals rematch against Pittsburgh.

The demanding matchups come as the Red Wings need every point they can get. They're currently tied with Calgary for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West, though they do have a game in hand. Detroit is trying to extend its league-best streak of 18 consecutive postseason appearances.

Brian Rafalski's score with 0.2 seconds left in regulation Friday night allowed the Red Wings to salvage a point at NHL-worst Edmonton, which eventually won 3-2 in a shootout.

"That was a huge point for us. We have to feel good about that," coach Mike Babcock said. "The playoff race is a grind and you have to go out there and do the best you can every day. Anytime you leave it to the end like we have, you have to grind it out all the way."

Vancouver's spot in the postseason is all but secure, but the Canucks are still seeking their second straight division titles and fourth in six seasons. They've widened their Northwest lead to five points over Colorado by going 7-2-1 since the Olympic break.

This contest will conclude a five-game homestand for Vancouver, which fell 5-2 to the New York Islanders on Tuesday night but got back on track Thursday, beating Pacific Division-leading San Jose 3-2.

Vancouver jumped on the Sharks early with two goals in the first 12:14, and Roberto Luongo stopped 32 shots after being pulled in the loss to the Islanders.

"We wanted to bounce back. We were disappointed with ourselves," Luongo said. "They are on top of the conference and a very good team and we came out, had a solid first period and really set the tempo."

Ryan Kesler scored his second goal in three games Thursday, then signed a six-year contract extension Friday. The center has a career-best 66 points this season and at least one in 17 of his last 19 games, including a season-high two goals in a 6-3 victory in Detroit on March 3.

Mikael Samuelsson also scored against his former team in that win, which snapped a three-game losing streak in this series for the Canucks. Samuelsson, who has a career-best 30 goals and 53 points this season, is expected to miss the next two weeks after suffering an upper-body injury Tuesday.

The Red Wings scored four goals in the third period - two by Pavel Datsyuk - of a 5-4 victory at Vancouver on Oct. 27. Henrik Sedin had a pair of goals for the Canucks, while Kesler had two assists in the loss.