Canucks looking to improve offense.
Canucks looking to improve offense.
Vancouver (4-5-0) at Los Angeles (3-4-1) 10:30 p.m. EDT
The Vancouver Canucks need to start scoring on a consistent basis if they want to climb out of the cellar in the Northwest Division.
The Canucks try to bounce back from a shutout loss when they visit the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.
Vancouver, which sits one point behind the Edmonton Oilers for last in the Northwest, dropped a 1-0 decision to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday - its fourth loss in five games.
The Canucks have scored two goals or less in each of those four setbacks, leading coach Alain Vigneault to issue a challenge to his forwards.
At the end of the day, our top offensive players have to find a way to score goals, he said.
Daniel Sedin, who led Vancouver with 29 goals last season, scored twice in a 5-4 overtime victory over the Calgary Flames in the second game of the season but has failed to tally in seven contests since.
The Kings also are looking to rebound after suffering a 4-3 shootout loss to the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings on Monday. Oscar Moller, Kyle Calder and Alexander Frolov each scored for Los Angeles, which are in the midst of a season-high seven game homestand.
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Canadiens open road trip against Wild.
Montreal (6-1-1) at Minnesota (6-2-1), 8:00 p.m. EDT
The Montreal Canadiens begin a four-game road trip on Thursday, when they visit the Minnesota Wild in a clash between two of the leagues hottest teams.
Montreal finished a fine 4-1-0 homestand with a 3-2 shootout victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. Carey Price stopped all three attempts he faced in the shootout and finished with 31 saves in the win.
Canadiens captain Saku Koivu and defenseman Andrei Markov lead the team with 10 points apiece, although both will have to start a new scoring streak. Markov had recorded a point in seven straight games before Tuesdays win, while Koivu had his six-game points streak snapped.
Minnesota is looking to bounce back after a rare loss as it dropped a 4-2 decision at Dallas on Wednesday.
Niklas Backstrom was pulled after allowing three first-period goals on 13 shots for the Wild, who are 3-0-1 at home this season. The Finnish netminder has started every game for Minnesota thus far.
It will be Montreals first visit to Minnesota since a 4-3 overtime loss on December 17, 2005.
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Slumping Oilers try to snap skid.
Edmonton (4-3-1) at Nashville (4-4-1), 8:00 p.m. EDT
The Edmonton Oilers hope to snap a four-game losing streak when they visit the Nashville Predators on Thursday.
Edmonton won its first four games to begin the season but have struggled for offense during its skid.
The Oilers were blanked, 1-0, in overtime by the Boston Bruins on Monday and have scored a total of just four goals during their slide.
Snapping their skid may be difficult against the Predators, who have defeated the Oilers eight straight times. Nashville outscored Edmonton, 19-8, in four meetings last season.
The Predators, who have won three of their four home games thus far, are coming off a 4-3 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.
J.P. Dumont leads Nashville with 10 assists and 12 points. Dumont, who is in the midst of a five-game points streak, had three assists in Tuesdays setback.
Edmontons longest losing streak last season was six games, with two of those setbacks coming beyond regulation.