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Surging Canucks visit struggling Blues

Dec 20, 2010 - 4:23 PM (Sports Network) - The Vancouver Canucks will try to take advantage of some recent home struggles by the St. Louis Blues and record a fourth straight victory this evening when the two franchises clash at Scottrade Center.

The Canucks are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and picked up a third straight victory on Saturday, a 4-1 triumph over the Maple Leafs. Roberto Luongo made 27 saves, while Jannik Hansen scored the game-winning goal and assisted on Christian Ehrhoff's third-period insurance tally.

"I thought Jannik was skating well tonight and getting to pucks behind their defense," said Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault.

Alexandre Burrows also had a goal and an assist and Henrik Sedin added an empty-net goal. Twin brother Daniel Sedin finished with an assist to give him four goals and 10 helpers over a 10-game point streak.

The Canucks kick off a three-game road trip having won three straight and seven of their last 10 as the guest. Tonight, they'll visit a Blues club that opened the season 8-0-1 at home this year, but has since dropped four of six (2-3-1) at Scottrade Center.

The Blues lost for just the third time in regulation at home (10-3-2) on Saturday with a 4-1 setback to the Sharks. David Backes scored St. Louis' only goal, converting on a second-period penalty shot, while Jaroslav Halak ended with 30 saves.

"For whatever reason we had a tough time getting pucks down behind their defense and doing the things we do really well," said Blues defenseman Eric Brewer. "They did a good job of keeping the puck moving and keeping us a step behind."

Getting healthy at the blue line should help tonight. Erik Johnson returned on Saturday after missing one game with a knee injury, while Roman Polak is set to play tonight for the first time since suffering a severed tendon in his right wrist on Oct. 23 that required surgery. He missed the last 24 games due to the ailment.

However, blueliner Alex Pietrangelo has missed the last three contests with an upper-body injury but could also return tonight.

The Blues posted a 3-2 victory in Vancouver on Dec. 5 and have won four of the last six games in this series.

Halak made 21 saves in that victory and is 3-1-0 with a 2.01 goals-against average in his career versus the Canucks. Luongo, meanwhile, gave up all three goals on 28 shots and is 12-9-0 with a 2.41 GAA when facing the Blues.