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Avalanche-Canucks Preview

Oct 25, 2010 - 8:16 PM By JEFF BARTL STATS Writer

Colorado (4-4-0) at Vancouver (3-3-2), 10:00 p.m. EDT

Daniel and Henrik Sedin are among the most consistent forwards in the NHL. The rest of the Vancouver Canucks seem determined to prove that they have help.

Vancouver looks to build upon its recent balanced effort when it hosts Colorado on Tuesday night.

Daniel Sedin entered Friday's game against Minnesota having scored seven of the Canucks' 15 goals, and Henrik Sedin had recorded an assist in all but one game. Vancouver, however, went on to defeat the Wild despite getting only one goal from its top line.

Manny Malhotra scored twice and Raffi Torres added a goal and an assist as the Canucks (3-3-2) avoided a third straight loss.

"Any successful team has a real emphasis on making sure there is secondary scoring and we're not riding our top line too much," Malhotra said. "They've done a fantastic job for us so far, but to be successful on a continuous basis we need those kinds of contributions from everybody."

Vancouver's depth was all the more evident in the performance of backup Corey Schneider, who stopped 23 shots and added an assist in his first start of the season.

"It's great getting playing time, especially with a team like this in front of you," Schneider said. "It's made my life easy and I'm getting comfortable and hopefully I can take on some tougher games on the road in the future."

Daniel Sedin's assist on Jeff Tambellini's third-period goal extended his point streak to eight games.

Colorado defensemen John-Michael Liles looks to continue a streak of his own Tuesday. Liles assisted on one of Milan Hejduk's two goals Saturday in a 6-4 loss to Los Angeles, giving him one assist in all eight contests. That ties Filip Kuba's NHL record for consecutive games with an assist by a defenseman to start a season.

Colorado (4-4-0) allowed a short-handed goal during a five-minute power play late in the third period, which turned out to be the winner. The Avalanche had overcome deficits of 1-0, 2-1 and 4-2.

"The assist streak is nice, but we just can't give up points at home like this," Liles said. "Especially fighting back and battling back to tie the game, to give up a short-handed goal is unacceptable."

Colorado has dropped three of four and gave up 10 goals in its last two losses.

"You have to definitely play a little bit more offensively and not give them that much," Hejduk said. "The last couple of games we gave up too many scoring chances and it cost us."

Chris Stewart, tied with Liles for the team scoring lead, extended his point streak to five games and has 10 points on the season.

Peter Budaj will make his second start and first since a shootout win at Detroit on Oct. 12. Craig Anderson has played the previous five games.

"We're approaching our ninth game and Peter played well in Detroit," coach Joe Sacco told the team's official site. "I think he deserves an opportunity to get in there and play again."

Colorado will be without captain Adam Foote, who suffered a head injury Saturday and will not make the trip.

The Canucks were 4-1-1 against the Avalanche last season.