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Canucks put point streak on line in Columbus

Dec 23, 2010 - 4:49 PM (Sports Network) - The Vancouver Canucks will try to stretch their point streak to eight straight games as they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets this evening at Nationwide Arena for the second time in nine days.

The Canucks had both a four-game overall and road winning streak halted last night in Detroit, where they dropped a 5-4 overtime decision. Vancouver is still 5-0-2 in its last seven and leads Colorado by a point for first place in the Northwest Division.

Daniel and Henrik Sedin both posted a goal and an assist, former Red Wing Mikael Samuelsson snapped an eight-game goal drought and Jeff Tambellini also lit the lamp in the loss, Roberto Luongo made 40 saves.

"That's a tough team. I think we battled back," Tambellini told NHL.com

Ryan Kesler added three assists to give him four goals and five helpers over a five-game point streak. He notched the first hat trick of his career when the Canucks last played the Blue Jackets, a 3-2 overtime win at home on Dec. 15.

Luongo made 28 saves, but backup Cory Schneider is expected to get the start tonight. Schneider has faced Columbus just once before, picking up a loss on Dec. 1, 2008 in a relief effort after allowing three goals on 18 shots in nearly 40 minutes of action.

That victory for Vancouver as its fourth in a row over Columbus and it has won its last two trips to Nationwide Arena as well.

The Blue Jackets' Mathieu Garon made 27 saves in the overtime loss and is 6-7-1 with a 3.20 goals-against average versus the Canucks.

With Steve Mason having been lifted early in three of his last four games, Garon appears to have taken over the starting role and he made 29 saves in Tuesday's 3-1 victory over the Flames.

Jared Boll scored for the first time in 14 games, Jakub Voracek snapped a 12- game slide without a goal and Rostislav Klesla also scored as Columbus ended a four-game losing streak that included the loss to Vancouver.

"It's obviously a big win and we are real happy with it and we know we have to build on it," said Garon. "And if we keep playing this well, we will be successful."

Columbus has now split the first two contests of a three-game homestand, while Vancouver is 1-0-1 on a three-game swing and 8-2-2 over its last 12 as the guest.