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Struggling Canucks, Blues look to end skids

Nov 17, 2006 - 3:14 PM St Louis (5-10-3) at Vancouver (8-10-1) 10:00 pm EST

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) - Both the St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks have been struggling lately, and try to break out of their funks when they meet on Friday.

The Blues come off a poor showing in a 6-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. Keith Tkachuk and Ryan Johnson scored for the Blues, who allowed four power-play goals in 10 attempts.

The Canucks have been struggling in losing four of their last five games, and are 1-3-0 on a six-game homestand that concludes Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

On Tuesday, the Canucks became the latest victim of the Detroit Red Wings, who have won nine straight games, in a 3-2 loss.

Henrik Sedin and Kevin Bieksa scored the lone goals for Vancouver, which has only scored four times in its current three-game losing streak.

The Canucks were tied, 2-2, with the Red Wings when Detroit's Johan Franzen scored a soft shorthanded goal on Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo early in the third period. Luongo finished with 30 saves.