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Canucks, Avalanche clash in crucial Western Conference matchup

Mar 26, 2008 - 12:14 PM Vancouver (38-28-10) at Colorado (40-31-6) 9:00 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) - The Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche each look to take a big step toward solidifying a playoff spot when the Northwest Division teams clash on Wednesday.

With less than two weeks left in the regular season, Vancouver and Colorado are tied for the seventh spot in the Western Conference, but just two points ahead of ninth-place Nashville (38-31-8). Edmonton (39-33-5) is also in the hunt, just three points back.

Vancouver blew a two-goal lead in Tuesday's 3-2 setback at Calgary, for its second straight defeat. Daymond Langkow and Dion Phaneuf scored 41 seconds apart midway through the third period to lift the Flames.

Markus Naslund and Daniel Sedin had given the Canucks a 2-0 advantage, tallying goals 12 seconds apart in the first period. Sedin leads the team with 28 goals.

The Avalanche snapped a four-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over Calgary on Monday.

Jose Theodore made 23 saves for his third shutout of the season and Jordan Leopold and Milan Hejduk scored Colorado's goals.

The Avalanche dropped the first two meetings with Vancouver, but have won the last four contests against their division-rival this season.