Detroit @ Vancouver preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 6, 2018 ) Vancouver 2, Detroit 3

Rookie sensation Elias Pettersson appears poised to return to the lineup when the Vancouver Canucks resume their six-game homestand Sunday afternoon against the Detroit Red Wings. The Canucks have earned points in all four games (2-0-2) of their stretch at Rogers Arena despite the absence of the 20-year-old Pettersson, who has missed the last five contests due to a knee injury.

Pettersson, the team leader in goals (22) and points (42) despite missing 11 games with two separate injuries, went through a full practice on Saturday while skating on a line with Brock Boeser and Josh Leivo. “I hope he can go. We’ll see,” Vancouver coach Travis Green, who plans on consulting with the team's medical staff Sunday morning, told reporters. The Red Wings, who occupy last place in the Atlantic Division, surrendered four third-period goals in Friday's 6-4 loss at Calgary in the opener of their three-game road trip. "Special teams were brutal, and that's the game," Detroit's Anthony Mantha told reporters after the team allowed three power-play goals and a short-handed tally against the Flames.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver)

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (18-24-7): Dylan Larkin scored the deciding goal in the shootout of a 3-2 win over Vancouver on Nov. 6 and netted two tallies on Friday to reach 20 for the first time since notching 23 during his 2015-16 rookie season. "He's just gotta keep being a great 200-foot player, doing a great job defensively, making sure he's leading the way that way," coach Jeff Blashill told reporters. "He's done a good job having the puck on his stick. I think the best way to lead is through example." Gustav Nyquist has recorded a goal and four assists during his three-game point streak and tallied versus Vancouver in November.

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (22-21-6): Sven Baertschi was sidelined for 30 games due to a concussion before rejoining the lineup after the holiday break and has supplied an offensive spark by scoring four goals in his last seven contests. Bo Horvat is mired in an 11-game goal-scoring drought but managed to find humor in the dry spell after collecting two assists on Friday to reach 200 points for his career. "Me shooting the puck hasn't been working, so I thought I'd give it to somebody who's going to put it in," Horvat told reporters. "Never when you're playing in the NHL do you think you'll be able to hit these kind of milestones."

OVERTIME

1. Canucks G Jacob Markstrom is 1-1-1 with 1.95 goals-against average versus Detroit.

2. Red Wings C Michael Rasmussen (hamstring) and D Filip Hronek both practiced on Saturday.

3. Pettersson scored five goals in four games before being injured on Jan. 3 at Montreal.

PREDICTION: Canucks 4, Red Wings 3