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GAME: Vancouver Canucks (31-18-7-3) at Colorado Avalanche (32-11-10-4).

TIME: Monday, 9 p.m. EST.

The Vancouver Canucks need something to jump-start the second half of their season. A victory over the Colorado Avalanche would do the trick.

The Canucks look for their first win since the All-Star break as they visit the division-leading Avalanche.

Vancouver has gone 1-4-0-1 over its last six games to fall six points behind Colorado for first place in the Northwest Division.

The Canucks have struggled offensively, scoring just four goals in three consecutive losses since the All-Star break.

Matt Cooke and Daniel Sedin both had shots hit the post in the third period of a 2-1 loss to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks on Saturday.

Johan Hedberg made 31 saves for Vancouver in place of starter Dan Cloutier, who sat out with flu-like symptoms.

The Canucks and Avalanche have been battling for the top spot in the division all season and are tied 1-1-1 in the season series.

Colorado is 2-0-1 to earn five points since the break.

David Aebischer made 28 saves to lift the Avalanche to a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

Alex Tanguay scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period off a rebound, and Joe Sakic had a power-play goal midway through the third to put Colorado ahead 4-2.

Aebischer is 25-11-7 this year with four shutouts. He started the season with 32 career victories.

"There is no one in the league playing better than David," Sakic said. "Goaltending is the least of our worries."

Colorado has lost just twice - both in overtime - in their last 12 games.




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STANDINGS

WESTERN CONFERENCE
  TEAM GP W L OT GF GA PTS
1 p - CHI 48 36 7 5 155 102 77
2 y - ANA 48 30 12 6 140 118 66
3 y - VAN 48 26 15 7 127 121 59
4 x - STL 48 29 17 2 129 115 60
5 x - LAK 48 27 16 5 133 118 59
6 x - SJS 48 25 16 7 124 116 57
7 x - DET 48 24 16 8 124 115 56
8 x - MIN 48 26 19 3 122 127 55
9 CBJ 48 24 17 7 120 119 55
10 PHX 48 21 18 9 125 131 51
11 DAL 48 22 22 4 130 142 48
12 EDM 48 19 22 7 125 134 45
13 CGY 48 19 25 4 128 160 42
14 NSH 48 16 23 9 111 139 41
15 COL 48 16 25 7 116 152 39

STATS

2012-2013 REGULAR SEASON
SKATERS: GP G A +/- Pts
P. Parenteau 48 18 25 -11 43
M. Duchene 47 17 26 -12 43
P. Stastny 40 9 15 -7 24
J. McGinn 47 11 11 -13 22
J. Mitchell 47 10 10 5 20
R. O'Reilly 29 6 14 -3 20
G. Landeskog 36 9 8 -4 17
T. Barrie 32 2 11 -11 13
C. McLeod 48 8 4 4 12
M. Hejduk 29 4 7 -7 11
 
GOALIES: W L OT Sv% GAA
J. Giguere 5 4 4 .908 2.84
S. Varlamov 11 21 3 .903 3.02
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