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Canucks, Predators battle for playoff positioning

Mar 6, 2008 - 2:53 PM Nashville (34-25-8) at Vancouver (32-24-10) 10:00 pm EST

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) - Two teams separated by just two points for the final spot in the Western Conference playoff picture lock up Thursday when the Nashville Predators visit the Vancouver Canucks.

The Predators (76 points) hold a two-point edge over the Canucks for the eighth and final spot in the West and enter Thursday having won their past two games by a combined 8-2.

Nashville goaltender Dan Ellis has been in net for each of the past two contests, stopping a combined 53 shots. He is 7-1-1 with a 2.41 goals-against average and one shutout in his last nine starts.

Martin Erat snapped a five-game goalless streak on Tuesday, recording the first hat trick of his career in a 5-1 win at Edmonton.

Jason Arnott, who leads Predators with 63 points this season, has earned at least one point in 20 of his last 22 games.

The Canucks have slipped out of the playoff picture by going 0-2-2 in their last four games, failing to score more than two goals in any of the contests.

They suffered a 2-1 loss to Northwest Division rival Colorado on Tuesday, going 1-for-4 on the power play and converting just one of 27 shots on goal.

Daniel Sedin, who leads Vancouver with 26 goals this season, managed just one shot against the Avalanche and does not have a point in the last four games. His streak of six straight games without goal ties a season high.

The Canucks have taken two of the last three meetings between the teams this season, including a 3-2 shootout win in Vancouver on February 21. Roberto Luongo made 49 saves in the victory.