Canucks look to extend winning streak against Red Wings

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The Canucks host the Detroit Red Wings tonight at Rogers Arena. It will be the first match-up between the two teams since the Wings joined the eastern conference during the NHL’s divisional realignment in the off season.

The Canucks enter the game on a four-game winning streak and have managed to grab a point in seven of their last eight games. The newly formed first line of Ryan Kesler and the Sedin twins has been very impressive. Coach John Torterella shifted Kesler to the wing a few games ago, and the forward responded with a great offensive week that the NHL recognized, by naming him the third star of the week.

Torterella feels the team is finally hitting its stride.

“I think we are beginning to understand that it is becoming instinctive a little bit about how we play. We keep working on it. It is going to be a whole new ball game for the guys who have been hurt for a while when they come back in, but I’m happy we are going this way, as far as understanding how we play.”

One area of concern for the Canucks is the powerplay. Torterella’s team ranks 28th in the league with the extra man.

“We need to start banging some in, but I don’t want the guys to press because I think our entries have been really good. The Sedin’s are so good when it comes to entering the zone. I think we have had a good concept with it and we have generated a lot of offence with it, we just haven’t finished.”

Detroit is having a great start to the year with a 6-4-2 record. Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk lead the Red Wings with 12 points each. Former Canuck Todd Bertuzzi enters the game with four points through the first 12 games.

Roberto Luongo will be in net for the Canucks when the puck drops at Rogers Arena at 7:30 p.m.

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