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Canucks look to gain ground vs. Wild

Feb 14, 2008 - 2:04 PM Minnesota (32-21-4) at Vancouver (28-22-7) 10:00 pm EST

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) - The Vancouver Canucks will have to bounce back from some terrible play over the past month if they hope to contend in the Northwest Division.

The Canucks hope to begin the climb back toward the top of the division when they host the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.

Vancouver is 4-8-3 in its last 15 games and has fallen into fourth place in the Northwest, five points behind the division-leading Wild. The normally stout goaltending of Roberto Luongo has been part of the problem.

The All-Star netminder, who ranks sixth in the NHL with a 2.20 goals-against average, is 4-6-3 since January 10. He has allowed 37 goals over his last 13 starts.

The Canucks showed some life in a 3-2 shootout win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. Luongo made 16 saves and Ryan Shannon tallied the shootout winner.

The Wild had a two-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday in a 4-2 setback at Edmonton. Brian Rolston scored his 24th goal, but goaltenders Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding allowed two goals apiece.

Backstrom has had better success against the Canucks this season, going 2-0-0 with a 2.14 GAA in two starts against the division rival this season. The teams have split four meetings this season, with Minnesota earning a 4-2 win in the last meeting on January 21.