Canucks aim for eighth straight win
Posted December 17, 2013 12:59 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
ST. PAUL, MN (NEWS1130) – The Canucks will try to keep their perfect December record going when they begin a three-game road trip taking on the Minnesota Wild.
Vancouver is the hottest team in the NHL right now, rolling off seven straight wins since the month began. But despite the recent run of success, the Canucks are still battling for a comfortable distance between them and the other teams fighting for a playoff position. Vancouver is sitting seventh in the tight Western Conference standings.
Roberto Luongo will start in goal against the Wild, even though he struggles inside the Xcel Energy Center. Over his career, he’s 3-9-2 inside that rink and hasn’t played there since October, 2010. He’s confident he can turn it around.
“It’s been a while, but it’s a hockey building like every other one, I’m actually looking forward to it,” he says.
Luongo was actually pulled in his last three starts inside the Energy Center, but Coach John Tortorella is only focusing on the current hot streak of his netminder. “I’ve heard about that. I haven’t paid much attention to it. He’s raised his level, this sport here, you go as your goalie goes.”
Over his last five starts, Luongo is 5-0 with a 1.20 goals against average.
The Wild are riding a three-game home win streak, and tonight will mark the first time that the Canucks will face former teammate Keith Ballard since his departure in the off-season.
Tom Sestito is back in the Vancouver lineup after missing three games with an undisclosed injury. Jeremy Welsh is expected to take a seat in the press box.
Puck drop at 5 p.m. live on Sportsnet Pacific.
