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Canucks end long home stretch as Sundin return looms

Dec 30, 2008 - 2:04 PM Philadelphia (19-10-7) at Vancouver (20-14-3), 10:00 p.m. EST

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) -- The Vancouver Canucks made a big splash in the hockey world by signing coveted free agent Mats Sundin.

While the 17-year veteran is set to begin skating with his new club on Tuesday, the Canucks hope to end their extended homestand on a good note when they host the Philadelphia Flyers.

After much speculation and rumors for several months, Sundin signed with Vancouver on December 18. His offensive prowess will surely help the Canucks, who wrap up a stretch of playing seven of eight games at home.

Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault is excited to meet his new player, but has set no timetable for Sundin to take the ice.

"The plan is to meet him (Tuesday) morning and from there I'm going to find out how he feels, what he's been doing on and off the ice," Vigneault said. "Until I sit down with him and talk to him and go through a normal process on where a player stands, I have no idea what's coming up here.

"Once I've sat down with him and talked to him and figured out where he stands and what we're going to do here in the next little while to get him ready, we're going to make that decision (when he will play)."

A nine-time All-Star, the 37-year-old Sundin recorded a club-high 32 goals and 78 points in 2007-08 with Toronto.

The Canucks are coming off a 3-0 shutout of the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.

Philadelphia has lost two in a row and three of four, but has enjoyed success against Vancouver.

The Flyers have outscored the Canucks, 32-10, during a six-game winning streak in Vancouver that dates back to December 31, 1995. They have scored 65 goals in winning 12 of the last 15 matchups overall against the Canucks.