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Flames host Canucks in Northwest battle

Dec 1, 2010 - 4:04 PM (Sports Network) - The Vancouver Canucks take aim at just their second three- game winning streak of the season this evening as they visit the Northwest Division-rival Calgary Flames and Scotiabank Saddledome.

After scoring just seven goals over a four-game slide, the Canucks have netted 10 while winning back-to-back games. After snapping their losing streak with a 4-2 victory versus the Avalanche a week ago, the Canucks rolled past the Sharks, 6-1, on Friday.

Mikael Samuelsson scored two goals and Jeff Tambellini, Raffi Torres, Alex Burrows and Keith Ballard had the others. Roberto Luongo finished with 32 saves for Vancouver, which has won three straight just once before this year, a six-game run from Oct. 22-Nov. 6.

"I think the last couple of games we took some good steps in the right direction," said Luongo, who stopped all 25 shots he faced in the final two periods.

"We're trying to do things the right way and improve as a team. We're taking advantage of the other team's mistakes and that's the type of hockey you want to be playing."

Center Manny Malhotra (flu-like symptoms) is expected to play tonight after practicing on Tuesday, while defenseman Kevin Bieksa (pneumonia) could also return to action.

Calgary goes for its second straight victory after shutting out Minnesota, 3-0, on Monday. Miikka Kiprusoff made 32 saves for his third shutout of the season and 37th of his career.

Jarome Iginla set up Jay Bouwmeester's goal and then added one of his own 18 seconds later in the second period. The Flames captain has eight goals over his last nine games after posing just two in his first 15 games.

"When we have that intensity level the game seems to flow for us," Flames head coach Brent Sutter said.

Niklas Hagman added a power-play goal in the home win, which came right after a 1-2-2 road trip. The Flames are 6-5-0 as the host this year, but play two straight and four of their next five on the road following this game.

Iginla has three goals and eight points over his last 10 games versus the Canucks, but is pointless in the last three meetings.

These two clubs split six meetings last year, with Kiprusoff and Luongo starting each game of their respective club. Kiprusoff had a 4.69 goals- against average in the 2009-10 series, while Luongo's was 2.79.

Calgary has won five of its last eight at home versus Vancouver.