Vancouver @ Calgary preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 6, 2018 ) Vancouver 4, Calgary 7

The Vancouver Canucks have pulled themselves back into the wild card hunt by compiling a Western Conference best 7-2-1 record over their last 10 games. After starting their six-game road trip with a 4-2 win in Edmonton Thursday, the Canucks will visit the Pacific Division-leading Calgary Flames on Saturday night.

“Winning shouldn’t be something you celebrate,” Vancouver goalie Jacob Markstrom told the media after surrendering two goals or fewer for the seventh straight game Thursday. “Winning should be normal, and in this organization we had that for a long time. That’s what we’re working to get back.” After a Mark Scheifele goal in the final two minutes handed Vancouver a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to the Jets on Dec. 22, the Canucks returned from a five-day holiday break refreshed as they scored four goals on their first six shots Thursday. Flames goalie David Rittich made 35 saves and Johnny Gaudreau recorded his fourth career hat trick as Calgary ended a three-game winless streak with a 4-1 victory in Winnipeg on Thursday. “I think (Rittich) played out his mind tonight,” Gaudreau told reporters. “It could have easily been 2-2, 3-3 there, going late into the third. He played unbelievable tonight and got us that win.”

TV: 10 p.m. ET, CBC, Sportsnet, CITY, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet One

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (18-18-4): Elias Pettersson tied Pavel Bure for a Canucks rookie record when he potted his sixth game-winning goal of the season in the first period of Thursday’s win. The 20-year-old Calder Trophy favorite has five goals and 11 assists over Vancouver’s last 11 games and leads NHL freshmen in most offensive categories including goals (18), assists (20), and power-play points (12). Center Bo Horvat leads the NHL is faceoffs won (533) and has five goals and five assists during the Canucks’ recent 10-game surge.

ABOUT THE FLAMES (23-12-3): Elias Lindholm has been one of the best offseason acquisitions in the league as his 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists) in 38 games leaves the Swede four points shy of matching his career-high from 2016-17 when he registered 45 points in 72 games with Carolina. Lindholm notched two assists against Winnipeg and recorded the ninth shorthanded point of his career when he set up a Mark Jankowski goal in the third period. Thursday’s victory moved Calgary to within one point of the Jets for first place in the West as the Flames lead the conference in goal differential (plus-27).

OVERTIME

1. Vancouver enters the weekend one point behind Dallas for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference after sitting seven points back on Dec. 5.

2. Calgary captain D Mark Giordano will play his 792nd NHL game Saturday, passing Theo Fleury for fourth-most in a Flames uniform.

3. Gaudreau’s three goals against Winnipeg moved him into fifth place in NHL scoring with 51 points entering Friday.

PREDICTION: Canucks 3, Flames 2