Vancouver @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 15, 2019 ) Detroit 1, Vancouver 5

The Vancouver Canucks face a daunting challenge in the form of their schedule in trying to end a run of missing the playoffs for the past four seasons, playing 11 of their first 17 games away from home. After opening the season with back-to-back losses on the road, the Canucks have won two of three on a four-game trek that ends at the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.

Vancouver has played three straight one-goal games on the trip, outlasting defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis in a shootout and falling 1-0 at New Jersey before rebounding with a 3-2 win against the New York Rangers. "When we do lose games we're not ones to want to lose three straight, four straight and get on these losing skids," captain Bo Horvat said. "We want to bounce back and have a great game and continue winning." That has not been the case for the Red Wings, who have been outscored 17-5 during a four-game losing streak. "Sure, you don't want to go on a four-game slide," coach Jeff Blashill said. "All I'm thinking about right now is tomorrow night's game. I'm not looking back, those games are all over."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet 360, CITY (Vancouver), FS Detroit

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (5-3-0): Goaltender Jacob Markstrom missed three games last week, including a 5-1 rout of Detroit, after taking a leave of absence to tend to a personal matter but he made 38 saves at Madison Square Garden in his return to the lineup. “He’s had a tough week and to see how he played is good for him and our team,” coach Travis Green said of Markstrom. “You feel for a guy like that who competes and wants to win. He’s been a real warrior. ... I was happy for him.” J.T. Miller scored twice on the power play versus the Red Wings last week.

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (3-5-0): Detroit surrendered five goals in three straight games before wrapping up a three-game road trip to Western Canada with a 2-1 loss at Edmonton, but the focal point of Monday's practice was at the other end of the ice. "The one thing we did earlier in the season that we haven't done certainly in the last three games was score," Blashill said. "You have to find a way to score some goals. Momentum, I've said it tons, momentum in a game is a huge thing and so is confidence." The Red Wings are 0-for-7 on the power play during the four-game skid.

OVERTIME

1. Canucks C Elias Pettersson collected two assists Sunday and had three points versus Detroit last week.

2. Red Wings D Jonathan Ericsson (hip), who has yet to play this season, was placed on waivers Tuesday.

3. Markstrom is 2-1-1 with a 1.97 goals-against average versus Detroit.

PREDICTION: Canucks 3, Red Wings 2