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Canucks face Oilers without injured G Luongo

Dec 15, 2007 - 4:12 PM Vancouver (17-12-3) at Edmonton (15-16-2) 10:00 pm EST

EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) - Safe to say the Vancouver Canucks are biding their time until the return of injured goaltender Roberto Luongo.

The Canucks sit atop the Northwest Division, but are expected to be without Luongo for the fourth consecutive game on Saturday when they face the Edmonton Oilers.

Luongo, nursing a rib injury, was first hurt when he stopped a slap shot off the stick of Minnesota's Aaron Voros on December 2. He was re-injured six days later against visiting Pittsburgh. In 26 games, Luongo has four shutouts and a 2.12 goals-against average.

The Canucks are in the midst of a streak that has them playing seven games in 11 days and are 1-2 heading into the finale of this current four-game road trip.

Vancouver center Brendan Morrison has missed his last two games with a wrist injury and is not expected to play. Left wing Markus Naslund, center Henrik Sedin and Morrison have combined for 14 points against the Oilers this season.

Edmonton has won its last two games by shootout, including a 4-3 victory over Detroit on Thursday. The Oilers lead the league with nine shootout victories.

The teams have split four games this season with Edmonton winning the last two meetings in the shootout. Center Shawn Horcoff leads the Oilers with 15 goals and 18 assists.