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Canucks return home to face struggling Isles

Nov 13, 2011 - 3:59 PM (Sports Network) - The Vancouver Canucks will play their first home game in over two weeks when they host the struggling New York Islanders tonight at Rogers Arena.

The Canucks are 3-2-1 as the home club this year, but last played in British Columbia on Oct. 29, when they beat Washington, 7-4. Vancouver then went 3-3-0 on six-game road trip that ended with a loss Friday in Anaheim.

Vancouver was handed a 4-3 setback by the Ducks, although the Canucks put forth a valiant comeback effort after falling behind 4-0 in the second period.

Kevin Bieksa got the Canucks on the board with a power-play goal at 4:32 of the third period and Jannik Hansen scored twice to get Vancouver within a goal of the Ducks with just under seven minutes left in regulation. Bieksa also added an assist and Daniel Sedin recorded two helpers.

Friday's setback marked another poor outing in the early going from Canucks No. 1 goaltender Roberto Luongo, who was pulled after allowing all four goals on 19 shots. Cory Schneider came on in relief and needed to make just two saves.

Luongo is 6-5-1 with 3.14 goals-against average and .891 save percentage this season. It's uncertain if Luongo or the backup Schneider will get the start tonight. Luongo, a former Islanders goaltender, has not fared well against the team that drafted him, posting a 6-10-2-1 record and a 2.73 GAA in his career against New York.

The Canucks are back at Rogers Arena for three straight games and will also host Chicago and Ottawa on this homestand.

The Islanders have just one win over their last nine games (1-5-3) after starting the season with a surprising 3-1-0 mark. New York coughed up a three- goal lead in its most recent tilt, a 4-3 overtime loss in Colorado on Thursday.

Kyle Quincey scored 2:39 into the extra session, capping a furious comeback for the Avalanche, who trailed 3-0 after Michael Grabner scored eight minutes into the second period. New York held the 3-0 edge until the final minute of the second period, when Paul Stastny banged home a rebound on a 5-on-3 power play with 21 seconds remaining.

Grabner, Josh Bailey and Brian Rolston lit the lamp for the Islanders, while Al Montoya made a career-high 47 saves in defeat.

Evgeni Nabokov is expected to get the start in net tonight for the Isles. The veteran is 14-6-2-1 with a 2.26 GAA in 25 career games against Vancouver.

The Isles, who are closing out a three-game road trip tonight, have yet to win a game away from home this season, posting an 0-3-2 mark as the visiting club.

Vancouver notched a shootout win on Long Island last year in the only meeting between the clubs in 2010-11. The Canucks have taken three of five and four of the last seven encounters with the Islanders and New York has dropped seven of its last nine in B.C.