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Leclaire looks to continue stellar start

Oct 21, 2007 - 1:05 PM Vancouver (3-4-0) at Columbus (3-2-1) 5:00 pm EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- The most pleasant surprise of the 2007-08 campaign so far is the play of Pascal Leclaire.

Leclaire will go for his fourth shutout of the season - in just his fifth start - when the Columbus Blue Jackets host the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday.

After registering just one shutout in his first 59 career games, the 24-year-old Leclaire has blanked three opponents in the first month of this season.

After making 60 saves in back-to-back shutouts against the Anaheim Ducks and Phoenix Coyotes, Leclaire was beaten five times against the Colorado Avalanche before turning aside 21 shots in a 3-0 triumph over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.

Selected eighth overall in the 2001 draft, Leclaire is 3-1 with a 1.26 goals-against average and .953 save percentage.

Leclaire will have to contain a Canucks offense that has struggled this season, tallying just 20 goals on the season. However, Vancouver's offense seems to have an extra spark away from home, collecting nine tallies in two road games.

The Canucks will need big production from their top line, which includes the Sedin twins. Daniel Sedin leads the club with three goals and eight points, while Henrik Sedin has managed a team-high six assists.

Last season, the family duo combined for 165 points and both finished with a plus-16.

The Blue Jackets offense has gotten a boost from the 23-year-old Rick Nash, who has a goal and an assist in each of his previous two games. Nash has racked up a team-leading four goals and eight points on the campaign.