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Bruins aim to stay perfect on road trip vs. NHL-leading Canucks

Feb 26, 2011 - 3:50 PM (Sports Network) - The Boston Bruins have jumped out to a roaring start on their six-game road trip and will face a big test tonight when they visit the NHL-leading Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena.

The Bruins had lost three straight contests prior to leaving Boston, but the B's have recorded three wins in a row to begin the trek. Boston has been a better club on the road than at home this season, posting a 19-7-4 mark as the guest and a 15-12-3 record at TD Garden.

Vancouver, meanwhile, has alternated wins and losses over its last nine games and is in danger of losing the NHL's top seed. Philadelphia, which has 86 points and is playing tonight in Ottawa, is just one behind the Canucks in the race for the Presidents' Trophy.

The Canucks are still seven points ahead of Detroit for the Western Conference lead and 15 points in front of Minnesota for first place in the Northwest Division.

Boston, which is first in the Northeast Division and third in the East with 75 points, picked up its most recent victory Tuesday in Calgary. Milan Lucic scored twice and Tim Thomas made 28 saves, leading the Bruins to the 3-1 win at the Saddledome. Brad Marchand also scored for Boston in the win over the Flames.

Thomas got back on the winning track after the veteran netminder had surrendered eight goals over consecutive losses. With the Bruins also playing in Edmonton on Sunday, it's unclear if Thomas or backup Tuukka Rask will get the start tonight.

The Canucks are playing the fourth portion of a six-game homestand and Vancouver improved to 22-5-5 as the host with Thursday's victory over the St. Louis Blues. Manny Malhotra scored the game-winner early in the third period to allow the Canucks to sneak past the Blues, 3-2.

Sami Salo and Mikael Samuelsson also lit the lamp for Vancouver, which got 28 saves from Cory Schneider. Roberto Luongo is expected to return to his normal starting role between the pipes tonight.

The Canucks, who lost to Montreal on Tuesday, avoided dropping consecutive games in regulation for the first time since November 20-21.

Boston has won three of its last five meetings with the Canucks, but Vancouver recorded a 3-2 shootout win on the road in the only encounter between the clubs last season. The Bruins have won three of four and six of nine in British Columbia.