Eurolanche

Facing the Canucks

Meeting the Avs in Denver could help the Canucks extend that streak and give coach Alain Vigneault the franchise record for victories.

Vancouver looks to continue its recent domination of Colorado and hand the Avalanche another home loss Wednesday night.

The Canucks are 9-0-2 in 11 matchups in this series since falling 3-0 in Colorado on Oct. 3, 2009. They have outscored the Avs 45-25 during that span.

Vancouver (10-9-1) is again one of the top scoring teams in the NHL after leading the league with 258 goals in 2010-11, but it has scored just three times in splitting its last two games while playing without No. 1 goaltender Roberto Luongo.

The Canucks completed a three-game homestand with a 2-1 overtime win over Ottawa on Sunday. Corey Schneider made several key saves - two on breakaways and another on a point-blank chance in overtime - to help Vancouver win for the fourth time in six games.

The victory was Vigneault's 246th with the Canucks, tying him with Marc Crawford on the team's all-time list.

Luongo has been out with an undisclosed upper-body injury, but he hopes to be able to play against Colorado (9-11-1).

"My goal is to be at least in uniform for Wednesday's game, whether I'm starting or not is (Vigneault's) decision, but I'll be ready to go," Luongo, 6-0-2 with a 2.58 goals-against average in his last eight starts versus the Avs, told Vancouver's official website.

"I'm feeling good and obviously at this time of year you want to make sure that you're a little bit cautious and not set yourself back any further. I took a couple of extra days, but right now I'm back ready."

Colorado may not be happy to see Luongo in net after scoring 17 goals in dropping six of eight overall. 

They outshot San Jose 37-18 on Sunday but lost 4-1 in the second game of a season-high eight-game homestand.

"We played a decent game, had all kinds of shots, we're just not scoring goals," captain Milan Hejduk said.

The Avs gave the Sharks six power-play chances, and their opponents have had 15 opportunities with the man advantage over the past four games.

"We take some unnecessary penalties. It takes away the momentum from you," coach Joe Sacco said. "You're taking away your best players' opportunities on the ice."

One bright spot for Colorado has been the play of Matt Duchene, who scored Sunday and has seven goals and three assists in the past nine games.

The third-year center, who leads the Avs with nine goals and 16 points, has scored six times in 12 games against Vancouver. Colorado, though, has lost nine of those contests.

The Canucks are 6-1-2 in Denver since the start of the 2008-09 season.

-by Associated Press-