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Canucks and Stars battle in Big D

Feb 1, 2011 - 4:34 PM (Sports Network) - Just days after playing against each other for the first time in their professional careers, twin brothers Daniel and Henrik Sedin will reunite this evening when their Vancouver Canucks go for a third straight win in a clash with the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center.

With the NHL switching to a new format for this year's All-Star Game in which a pair of captains selected the teams for the contest, Daniel wound up on Team Staal with teammate Ryan Kesler, while Henrik was picked for Team Lidstrom.

Daniel Sedin took home the Accuracy Shooting contest in Saturday's SuperSkills, then had an assist in his team's 11-10 setback. Kesler failed to register a point, while Henrik had a pair of assists.

Vancouver will be eager to get the two back together as it continues its quest for the best record in the NHL. The Canucks are currently tied for that honor with the Flyers, while their 71 points gives them a 15-point edge over the Avalanche for first place in the Northwest Division.

The Canucks went 8-2-4 in January, going 2-0-3 in their last five before the All-Star break. Henrik Sedin has a pair of goals and four assists in the last five games, while Daniel has six helpers in that span.

Cody Hodgson is slated to make his NHL debut tonight after Vancouver recalled the 10th overall pick of the 2008 draft on Monday. Hodgson had 10 goals and 16 points in 28 games this year with Manitoba of the American Hockey League.

"It's been a long two years, definitely, waiting for this moment but I'm excited," Hodgson told Vancouver's website. "I knew I was getting better and getting healthier and feeling more comfortable on the ice and eventually if I kept working hard I'd get my opportunity."

The Canucks return to the ice following the break without defenseman Alex Edler, who underwent back surgery and may not return until the playoffs. Edler was leading all Vancouver skaters in ice time with 24:23 minutes per game.

Roberto Luongo should get the call in net as Vancouver goes for a fifth straight victory over Dallas and eighth in the last nine meetings. Luongo is 12-0-5 in his last 17 starts since his last regulation loss on Dec. 5.

Luongo has also won seven straight starts versus the Stars and is 10-0-2 in his last 12 against him to boost his career numbers in this series to 12-4-2 with a 2.00 goals-against average. He hasn't lost in regulation to the Stars since Oct. 23, 2006.

Henrik Sedin has four goals and 15 points over an eight-game point streak against Dallas, which has lost two straight and three of its last four at home to the Canucks, while Daniel has four goals and five helpers in his last six versus them.

The Stars will try to do better than the last time they faced the Canucks, a 7-1 loss in Vancouver last Monday. Brad Richards, one of two All-Star representatives for the Stars, had the lone goal.

Richards had an assist for Team Lidstrom after posting 12 assists and 15 points in 11 January games, while Loui Eriksson had a pair of goals and two assists for Team Lidstrom. However, Eriksson has gone three straight games without a point since recording at least one in 10 contests in a row (2 goals, 10 assists).

Dallas leads the Pacific Division with 65 points, five more than second-place Anaheim, and is third overall in the West. The Stars went 8-2-1 in January.

Kari Lehtonen will start tonight and he is just 1-4-0 with a 4.19 GAA in his career versus the Canucks. He gave up all seven goals in last week's meeting and did not finish the game.

Neither Tom Wandell or Jamie Benn will play tonight due to shoulder injuries.

Dallas is 4-0-1 in its last five at home.