(SportsNetwork.com) – The Vancouver Canucks hope to secure a third straight
victory on Friday night as they play host to the slumping Arizona Coyotes.
The Canucks are 12-5-0 this season, an unanticipated start after they missed
the playoffs for the first time in six years this past spring.
Vancouver won for the eighth time in 10 games on Tuesday, picking up a 4-3
overtime victory against the Ottawa Senators. Daniel Sedin had the game-
winning goal with 55 seconds on the clock.
Henrik Sedin made a move around a defender and sent a cross-ice feed from the
left circle to Daniel Sedin, who blasted a sharp-angle one-timer past the
glove of Craig Anderson from just above the goal line for the win.
Alexandre Burrows, Shawn Matthias and Kevin Bieksa also scored and Henrik
Sedin finished with two assists for the Canucks, who got 21 saves from Ryan
Miller.
“We’re not relying on one or two lines to win and we’re playing good hockey,
everyone is involved,” said Bieksa.
Vancouver has won all six of its one-goal games this season and may have both
Derek Dorsett (upper body) and Radim Vrbata (lower body) in the lineup
tonight. Both wingers have missed the last two games.
Miller may get the call again tonight and has won all seven of his previous
starts against the Coyotes, posting a 1.27 goals against average and .958 save
percentage.
Arizona was in action last night and lost its third straight game, falling 5-3
to the Calgary Flames.
Shane Doan and Antoine Vermette registered a goal and helper each for the
Coyotes, who have dropped six of nine. Joe Vitale also scored, but Mike Smith
was beaten five times on just 25 shots in the setback.
“Calgary made plays to get to the front of the net on our turnovers,” said
Arizona head coach Dave Tippett. “When we don’t have the puck enough to make
those plays it’s hard to get in front of their net.”
Smith fell to 4-9-0 with a 3.43 GAA and .889 save percentage in 13 starts this
season. He may get a rest tonight, with backup Devan Dubnyk looking to improve
on his 5-6-3 record, 2.59 GAA and .920 save percentage in his career versus
the Canucks.
The Coyotes, who conclude a three-game swing on Sunday in Edmonton, went 3-0-2
versus the Canucks last season, winning all three games at home. They have
lost three straight in Vancouver.
