• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Naslund faces former team for first time when Rangers host Canucks

Nov 19, 2008 - 11:26 AM Vancouver (10-6-2) at NY Rangers (14-5-2) 7:30 p.m. EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Markus Naslund faces his former team for the first time on Wednesday when the New York Rangers host the Vancouver Canucks.

Naslund was a member of the Canucks for 12 seasons before signing a reported two-year, $8 million contract to join the Rangers as a free agent during the offseason.

One of the most popular players in Vancouver history, the 35-year-old Naslund had been the Canucks' captain for the previous seven campaigns.

The Swede recorded six seasons with 30 or more goals in Vancouver, scoring a career-high 104 points in 2002-2003, when he won the Lester B. Pearson Award. He ranks first on the franchise list in goals (346), points (756) and hat tricks (10) and third in assists (410) and games played (884).

Naslund expects it to be a little strange when he takes the ice against a team with which he has so much history.

"It's definitely going to be a little bit different," he said. "There's some guys still there I played together with for almost 10 years. Facing them is going to be different but you just have to be professional and try to find a way to win."

New York will try to earn its fourth straight victory on Wednesday.

The Canucks are looking to bounce back from a 2-1 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Monday and claim victory for the fifth time in their last seven games.