Music: {allcanada} Vancouver (31-10-9) at Dallas (30-15-5)

Monday, January 31, 2011

{allcanada} Vancouver (31-10-9) at Dallas (30-15-5)

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Game info: 8:30 pm EST Tue Feb 1, 2011
TV: RSNP, FSSW

The Vancouver Canucks and Dallas Stars lead their respective divisions, but their matchups have not been close this season. It'll be that much harder for Dallas if it has to face Roberto Luongo (notes), who has won his last seven starts against the Stars and hasn't lost in regulation since Dec. 5.

The Canucks will try to make it five in a row over the Stars and three straight this season when the teams meet Tuesday night in Dallas.

Vancouver (31-10-9) is tied for the NHL lead with 71 points to top the Northwest Division while Dallas (30-15-5) has 65 points for first place in the Pacific.

The Canucks have gone 3 for 6 on the power play in both wins over the Stars this season, 4-1 on Dec. 31 and 7-1 last Monday. Six different players scored on the power play in those games for Vancouver, third in the league at 23.5 percent.

Luongo made 25 saves in last week's win, improving to 7-0-0 with a 2.12 goals-against average in his last seven starts against the Stars. He hasn't lost to them in regulation in his last 12 starts, going 10-0-2 with a 1.87 GAA in that span.

The Canucks goalie improved to 12-0-5 with a 1.94 GAA in his last 17 starts with 26 saves last Wednesday in a 2-1 home win over Nashville.

Defenseman Lee Sweatt (notes) scored the winning goal with 7:29 left in his NHL debut.

The Canucks could be looking for more from Sweatt, with the news that defenseman Alex Edler is having back surgery and will be out indefinitely. Edler leads the Canucks with 24 minutes of ice time per game and tops the defense with 32 points.

Defensemen Aaron Rome (notes) and Andrew Alberts (notes) also remain out.

"I don't think you replace him, I think you do things by committee like we've done for the rest of the year here, and I think it gives guys like Keith Ballard (notes) a chance to step up and play more minutes, which is a role he wants," general manager Mike Gillis told the Canucks' official website.

Edler was hurt in last week's win over Dallas in which the Canucks chased Kari Lehtonen (notes), who allowed all seven goals in his worst showing of the season. Lehtonen bounced back with 34 saves in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Edmonton.

"When I feel like I didn't a good job, when I feel like I didn't help the team, I'm more focused on the next game," Lehtonen said. "I was able to help the guys and be part of the win and that always feels good."

Lehtonen's last two regulation losses have been against Vancouver, who chased him after he gave up four goals on 14 shots in the December meeting.

Twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin (notes) lead the Western Conference with 64 and 61 points, respectively. Daniel has nine during a six-game run against Dallas while Henrik has 15 in an eight-game streak in this series.

The Stars are hoping that Loui Eriksson (notes) will avoid being held without a point for the fourth straight game for the first time since Feb. 21-28, 2009. Eriksson is second on the team with 49 points.