Vancouver @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 13, 2019 ) NY Rangers 1, Vancouver 4

The New York Rangers have dropped three straight contests after starting the season with two impressive victories, and look to begin moving forward again when they host the improving Vancouver Canucks on Sunday afternoon. The Rangers enjoyed a week off following wins over Winnipeg and Ottawa, but have managed five goals in the last three games after falling at Washington 5-2 on Friday.

“It sucks losing. I hate losing,” New York center Mika Zibanejad, who leads the team with 10 points, told reporters after the latest setback. “But there is always a lesson. Hopefully we can learn from it quickly, and move on.” The Canucks snapped a four-game losing streak against the Rangers with a 4-1 victory last March and had won four straight overall this season before coming up empty Saturday afternoon in a 1-0 loss at New Jersey, managing only five shots in the third period. Vancouver had scored 18 goals during its winning streak, which included two shootout triumphs, but went 0-for-7 with the man advantage against the Devils. “We did some good things, but it wasn’t enough,” Canucks captain Bo Horvat told the media after the setback. “. … We need some finish on our power play, we’re getting good looks and need to score.”

TV: 1 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Vancouver), MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (4-3-0): Forward J.T. Miller, who along with Horvat needs one goal to reach 100 in his career, leads the team with eight points and a plus-4 rating after coming over in an offseason trade with Tampa Bay. Defenseman Alexander Edler, who signed a two-year extension worth $12 million in the summer, is off to a strong start with three goals and is tied with forwards Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser for second on the team with six points. Jacob Markstrom (2-2-0, .926 save percentage) is expected back in net Sunday for Vancouver after missing time to attend to a family matter and watching backup Thatcher Demko make 23 saves Saturday.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (2-3-0): Zibanejad, who had four goals and eight points in his first two contests, had a pair of assists Friday after being kept off the scoresheet in losses to Edmonton and New Jersey. Big-ticket offseason signing Artemi Panarin netted his third goal in five games Friday - the first at even strength - while fellow forward Pavel Buchnevich scored his first of the season to go along with three assists. Defenseman Jacob Trouba, New York’s other major acquisition this summer, recorded a season-high eight shots against Washington and had an assist to tie Panarin for second on the team with five points.

OVERTIME

1. Vancouver D Quinn Hughes (three points, seven games) was held without a shot Saturday, playing against his brother Jack for the first time in the NHL.

2. New York D Tony DeAngelo (minus-6 rating) was limited to two shifts following the first period Friday after struggling in the opening 20 minutes.

3. The Canucks gave up only their second power-play goal in 24 chances on the season Saturday and the Rangers are 4-for-19 with the man advantage.

PREDICTION: Canucks 4, Rangers 3