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Red-hot Canucks host Oilers

Jan 7, 2011 - 4:33 PM (Sports Network) - The Vancouver Canucks seek to extend a club-record 14-game point streak and win eight in a row for the first time in over eight years as they host the Edmonton Oilers this evening at Rogers Arena.

The Canucks are 12-0-2 since their last regulation loss on Dec. 5 and lead the NHL with 57 points, one ahead of the Penguins and two up on the Red Wings. Vancouver's current seven-game win streak is a season best, one that was extended with a 3-1 triumph over Calgary on Wednesday.

Daniel Sedin scored his 22nd goal of the season and Ryan Kesler added his 20th as the Canucks became the first team this year with a pair of 20-goal scorers. Kevin Bieksa added a goal and an assist and Robert Luongo lost his shutout bid with just 11 seconds left before ending with 43 saves.

"It's tough to let one in the last few seconds, but we got the two points so I'm just going to move on," Luongo said. "Obviously I want to stop them all. So I'm disappointed I let one in at the end."

The Canucks picked up a win in the opener of a three-game homestand and have now won five in a row at the host. They haven't won eight straight overall since claiming 10 consecutive victories from Nov. 9-30, 2002.

After winning four of the six meetings last year, the Canucks have bested the Oilers in all three meetings so far this season. Vancouver took the first two clashes in Edmonton before a 3-2 home win on Dec. 26 gave the club a victory in four straight and six of the last seven meetings at Rogers Arena.

Raffi Torres, Bieksa and Henrik Sedin all have four points versus the Oilers this year, with Torres notching his first career hat trick against his former club on Nov. 2. Luongo has a pair of wins over Edmonton this year and is 6-1-0 with a 1.86 goals-against average in his last seven versus the club.

The Oilers will be looking to win consecutive games for the first time since a four-game win streak from Nov. 29-Dec. 4. They halted a seven-game losing streak with last night's 2-1 victory over the Islanders.

Gilbert Brule and Dustin Penner scored first-period goals and Devan Dubnyk made 30 saves in Edmonton's first win since Dec. 16. Andrew Cogliano assisted on both goals.

"You know we seem to be more on top of the puck," said Edmonton head coach Tom Renney. "We got pucks to the net, we were more in control of ourselves."

The Oilers salvaged the finale of a five-game homestand and kick off a string of five in a row on the road this evening. Edmonton has lost its last three as the guest and may have to play tonight without defenseman Jim Vandermeer after he suffered a leg injury in last night's win.

Dubnyk's solid play last night, as well as Nikolai Khabibulin's struggles versus Vancouver, could earn him another start tonight. Dubnyk is 0-1-1 with a 2.80 GAA versus Vancouver, but Khabibulin is 1-11-1 with a tie in his last 14 when facing the Oilers. He has allowed at least three goals in 10 of those games.

Penner and Cogliano both have three points versus Vancouver this season.