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Canucks aim to extend home point streak in test vs. Preds

Jan 26, 2011 - 4:18 PM (Sports Network) - Still hoping to avoid their first home regulation loss in close to two months, the Vancouver Canucks close out a four-game residency at Rogers Arena this evening against the Nashville Predators.

Vancouver is 8-0-4 since its last 60-minute loss at home back on Dec. 5. The Canucks are 16-3-5 overall at Rogers Arena this season and 1-0-2 so far on their homestand.

Henrik Sedin had a goal and two assists in Monday's 7-1 victory over Dallas, one that halted the Canucks' four-game slide (0-1-3). Ryan Kesler, Mason Raymond and Mikael Samuelsson all finished with a goal and an assist, while Roberto Luongo made 25 saves.

"We talked before the game about getting the power play going and making sure the bounces went our way," said Sedin. "Those two things were the difference tonight."

The Northwest Division-leading Canucks are five points up on Detroit for the most in the Western Conference and are two back of the Flyers for the most in the NHL.

The Predators figure to have their hands full with Sedin and Luongo tonight. Sedin, who leads the NHL with 50 assists, has a pair of goals and nine helpers in his last six games versus the Predators, while Luongo is 11-0-5 overall since his last loss on Dec. 5.

Luongo is 8-8-0 with three ties and a 2.27 goals-against average in his career versus Nashville.

The Predators, who are tied for fourth in the conference and four points back of the first-place Red Wings in the Central Division, had scored 13 goals over a three-game winning streak before being kept in check on Monday by Calgary in a 3-1 road loss.

David Legwand had the goal and Pekka Rinne made 24 saves for Nashville, which lost for just the third time in its last 13 games.

"We didn't manage the puck very well and passed up on some shots," said Nashville head coach Barry Trotz. "When you turn over the puck and pass up on shots you're not going to score much."

Nashville closes out a season-high six-game road swing tonight and have gone 3-2-0 on the trek so far. It might be without forward J.P. Dumont for a second straight game due to a neck injury.

These these two clubs split four meetings last year, but the Canucks have won eight of their last 11 overall when facing the Predators. Nashville has won two of its last three in Vancouver.

Rinne is 2-2-0 with a 2.53 GAA lifetime against Vancouver.

Tonight's game will mark the first for Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis against his former team. The 28-year-old was selected in the first round of the 2001 draft by the Predators and played six seasons with the club before joining Vancouver as a free agent this past offseason.