Now is not the best time for the Vancouver Canucks to start losing games at home.
Vancouver begins a stretch of three straight contests against Northwest Division opponents when it continues its season-high six-game homestand with a matchup against the Edmonton Oilers.
After winning 13 of their first 14 at home, the Canucks have lost two straight at GM Place. In both games, Vancouver blew a two-goal lead and gave up a short-handed goal to tie the contest.
“We need to be held more accountable,” forward Todd Bertuzzi said. “They were two for-sure wins and it’s frustrating.”
The division-leading Canucks face Edmonton Wednesday before back-to-back games with Calgary on Friday and Monday. The Oilers and Flames are both two points behind Vancouver in the Northwest, and are a combined 5-0 against the Canucks this season.
Vancouver led Edmonton 4-2 in the third period on Saturday before the Oilers rallied for a 5-4 victory in overtime. On Monday, the Canucks wasted a 2-0 first-period lead in a 4-3 shootout loss to Los Angeles.
The Oilers have overcome two-goal deficits in winning each of their last three games.
Shawn Horcoff had his first two-goal game since opening night and Fernando Pisani’s goal with 45 seconds left in the third period gave Edmonton a 5-4 win over the Flames on Monday.
“We never give up,” Horcoff said. “We wear a lot of teams down.”
Igor Ulanov had the first two-goal game of his career and Ethan Moreau had two assists to extend his point streak to a career-high seven games.
“Goals are such great confident builders for players,” Oilers coach Craig MacTavish said. “(Horcoff) was making a play every time he touched the puck.”
Ales Hemsky has five assists in his last three games overall, and has three goals and five assists in his last five contests against Vancouver.
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Nikolai Khabibulin G, Ales Hemsky RW, Ryan Stone C, Sheldon Souray D
