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Canucks aim to continue success with division vs. Flames

Nov 18, 2007 - 2:06 PM Calgary (8-8-3) at Vancouver (9-8-1) 8:00 pm EST

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) - The Vancouver Canucks will look to continue their strong play within the Northwest Division when they host the Calgary Flames on Sunday.

Vancouver posted a 6-2 win over Minnesota on Friday in which six players recorded tallies - three of which came on the power play. It was a rare offensive explosion for the Canucks, who entered the contest averaging a league-low 1.67 goals at home.

Roberto Luongo stopped 20 shots as Vancouver improved to 7-0-1 in the last eight games against division rivals, and posted just its third win here in 10 games.

Vancouver, which is just 2-8 vs. the rest of the league, is playing shorthanded but seems no worse for the wear. The Canucks lost defensemen Sami Salo (broken nose) and Kevin Bieksa (calf) on November 1, but are 4-0-1 since.

Vancouver should find more success against Calgary, since it has won six of the last eight meetings. The Canucks posted a 3-2 win over the Flames in the last meeting on November 8.

Luongo stopped 36 shots in the win, before Vancouver nearly blew a 3-0 lead. The Canucks also took the first meeting of the season, 4-3, on October 6.

Calgary has won two straight after a 3-1 triumph over Edmonton on Saturday in which Matthew Lombardi and Owen Nolan recorded goals, and Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 15 shots.