Vancouver @ Ottawa preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 3, 2019 ) Ottawa 2, Vancouver 5

Tyler Toffoli has made quite the impression on his new teammates by recording three goals and five points in his first three games since being acquired from Los Angeles last week. Toffoli looks to continue his strong surge on Thursday when the Vancouver Canucks visit the Ottawa Senators, who have lost four in a row (0-3-1).

Toffoli scored 1:35 into overtime on Tuesday as Vancouver improved to 4-1-1 in its past six contests by opening a four-game trek with a 4-3 victory over Montreal. "It's been incredible. The guys have been great. Getting points in all three games has made it a lot more fun," said the 27-year-old Ontario native, who has collected nine points (seven goals, two assists) in his last five games overall. While the Canucks are bidding to snap a four-year playoff drought, the Senators are sprinting toward a third straight early tee time in the spring after dropping 21 of their last 26 games (5-13-8). Ottawa, which was an active seller at Monday's trade deadline, struggled with its chemistry the following day in a 3-2 setback at Nashville.

TIME: 7:30 p.m. ET. TV: TSN5, RDS2, Sportsnet Pacific

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (34-22-6): Elias Pettersson scored on the power play to highlight his team's four-goal first period on Dec. 3 as Vancouver posted its fourth straight victory over Ottawa with a 5-2 win. The reigning Calder Trophy recipient leads the Canucks with 25 goals, although just two have come in the last eight games. J.T. Miller set up Pettersson's tally versus the Senators and also assisted on captain Bo Horvat's power-play goal on Tuesday to extend his point streak to three games (two goals, four assists).

ABOUT THE SENATORS (21-31-12): Bobby Ryan may not have dented the scoresheet in Tuesday's loss, but his return to the ice served as a type of victory for the 32-year-old in his first game since entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program on Nov. 20. "Really nice to be back in competition mode," said Ryan, who registered four shots, two hits and two blocks against the Predators. "I can't remember the nerves on a game day like this in a long, long time, and that's a good sign and a good feeling. A win would've been really nice, but there were some highs and lows in the game for me." Brady Tkachuk is experiencing some highs and lows as well, as the 20-year-old followed up a sizzling seven-point stretch by being held off the scoresheet in each of the last four games.

OVERTIME

1. Vancouver rookie D Quinn Hughes has 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) over his last 23 games.

2. Ottawa D Thomas Chabot scored a goal on Tuesday, marking just his fourth point in February.

3. Canucks G Thatcher Demko turned aside 40 shots in the previous meeting with the Senators.

PREDICTION: Canucks 3, Senators 2