Detroit Red Wings DetroitRedWings.com presented by AT&T Detroit Red Wings presented by Amway
Click Here to Buy Playoffs Tickets
Email Updates App Text/SMS Updates Twitter Facebook Red Wings TV RSS Feeds
 

Red Wings-Canucks Preview
Associated Press

VANCOUVER -- Roberto Luongo has helped key the Vancouver Canucks' recent success. They may have to try to continue that success without their star goaltender.

The Canucks seek a season-high fourth straight win on Monday, but may not have Luongo available when they welcome the surging Red Wings.

Vancouver (13-6-2) has collected at least a point in each of its last nine games (7-0-2) as Luongo has posted a 5-0-2 record, a 0.97 goals-against average and a .969 save percentage while starting eight games in that stretch.

The Canucks have won three straight, including a 3-1 victory at Pittsburgh on Saturday to conclude a 3-0-1 road trip. However, Luongo injured his groin less than five minutes into the game, collapsing onto the ice following what appeared to be routine save on a shot from the point.

The two-time Vezina Trophy finalist exited the game and was expected to be evaluated in Vancouver, but the extent of his injury remains unclear.

Curtis Sanford replaced Luongo and turned aside 17 of 18 shots en route to his second straight victory, improving to 2-1-0 with a 2.46 GAA in four appearances this season.

"You hate to see your teammate down on the ice like that, he's the biggest part of our team," said Sanford, who also beat Minnesota on Thursday as Luongo was given a rare night off. "But we're going to have to move past that and we're going to have to play some games without him in there."

Should Luongo be forced out of Monday's game, Sanford would likely start against the Red Wings (14-2-3). He is 1-3-0 with a 2.91 GAA in five career games versus Detroit, which handed Vancouver its most recent regulation loss - 3-2 at home on Nov. 2.

The Canucks beat the Red Wings 4-3 in Detroit on Oct. 16 - the teams' first meeting of the season.

Vancouver's Pavol Demitra has 10 goals and 24 points in 46 career games versus the Red Wings, and has six goals and four assists during a six-game overall point streak.

Demitra centers a line between twin brothers Henrik and Daniel Sedin, who have combined for four goals and 10 assists over the last five games.

The linemates could struggle to keep their production going versus Detroit, which has gone 7-0-1 in November while allowing only 20 goals over those eight games.

The reigning Stanley Cup champions stayed hot Saturday with a 5-2 victory in Calgary.

Pavel Datsyuk and Jiri Hudler had a goal and an assist apiece for the Red Wings, who have won the first two games on their three-game trip and five straight overall. They last won six in a row during an eight-game run from Jan. 17-Feb. 5.

"We know how to win," said Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, whose team has also won its last five road games. "We've been winning for a while here and we're determined. When you get contributions from lots of people, you're better."

Ty Conklin made 29 saves versus Calgary, but Detroit will likely go with Chris Osgood on Monday. Osgood, who has won his last three visits to Vancouver, is 16-4-1 with four ties and a 2.45 GAA in 27 career games against the Canucks.
 




SCHEDULE

HOME
AWAY
PROMOTIONAL

STANDINGS

WESTERN CONFERENCE
  TEAM GP W L OT GF GA PTS
1 p - CHI 48 36 7 5 155 102 77
2 y - ANA 48 30 12 6 140 118 66
3 y - VAN 48 26 15 7 127 121 59
4 x - STL 48 29 17 2 129 115 60
5 x - LAK 48 27 16 5 133 118 59
6 x - SJS 48 25 16 7 124 116 57
7 x - DET 48 24 16 8 124 115 56
8 x - MIN 48 26 19 3 122 127 55
9 CBJ 48 24 17 7 120 119 55
10 PHX 48 21 18 9 125 131 51
11 DAL 48 22 22 4 130 142 48
12 EDM 48 19 22 7 125 134 45
13 CGY 48 19 25 4 128 160 42
14 NSH 48 16 23 9 111 139 41
15 COL 48 16 25 7 116 152 39

DetroitRedWings.com is the official Web site of the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit Red Wings and DetroitRedWings.com are trademarks of the Detroit Red Wings. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, NHL Conference logos and the word mark NHL Winter Classic are registered trademarks and the NHL Winter Classic logo is a trademark of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks as well as all other proprietary materials depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective NHL teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. Copyright © 1999-2013 Detroit Red Wings and the National Hockey League. All Rights Reserved.
 
Advertise/SponsorshipsOlympia Entertainment | Code of Conduct | Privacy Policy | AdChoices | Employment | Contact Us | NHL.com Terms of Use | Site Map