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Canucks aim to break out of recent slide

Dec 2, 2006 - 3:27 PM Colorado (12-11-2) at Vancouver (12-13-1) 10:00 pm EST

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) -- The Vancouver Canucks have lost three of their last four games, and will try to break out of their slump when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.

Vancouver's latest loss was a 2-1 defeat to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. The Canucks trailed, 1-0, when rookie defenseman Alexander Edler scored his first career goal early in the third period before Anaheim's Ryan Getzlaf scored the game-winner just over four minutes later.

A problem for the Canucks this season - as well as in the loss to the Ducks - is a lack of offense. Vancouver entered the Anaheim game averaging only 2.20 goals-per-game, the 28th-lowest output in the league.

Vancouver has scored just three goals in its last four games.

The Avalanche go for their second straight win after an impressive 7-3 win over the Edmonton on Thursday.

Tyler Arnason led the Avalanche with two goals and an assist while John-Michael Liles had a goal and two assists. Netminder Peter Budaj made 21 saves for Colorado, which outshot Edmonton, 29-24.

The Avalanche could receive a boost Saturday as Jordan Leopold is expected to make his season debut. The defenseman, who was acquired over the summer from Calgary for Alex Tanguay, has been sidelined since undergoing offseason hernia surgery.