The Vancouver Canucks hope to extend their longest winning streak of the season this evening and continue their run at the Presidents' Trophy as they host the Anaheim Ducks.
The Canucks have won six straight for the first time this season and ironically all six wins have come since star forward Daniel Sedin suffered a concussion after taking an elbow to the head versus the Chicago Blackhawks on March 21.
Vancouver has won by just a single goal five times over its win streak, including Saturday's 3-2 overtime victory against Calgary. Playing for the first time in nearly three months because of a broken collarbone, center Andrew Ebbett scored on a deflection with 62 seconds left in overtime.
"That was a fun night. I was just happy to be out there," said Ebbett, who had missed the past 36 games.
Maxim Lapierre and Marc-Andre Gragnani also scored for the Canucks, who have 107 points on the season, tied with the Rangers for the most in the NHL and one ahead of the Blues for the top seed in the Western Conference. All three teams have three games left on the season, with St. Louis idle and New York visiting Philadelphia tonight.
Roberto Luongo made 31 saves for the victory, including three in overtime, to keep Vancouver perfect on a five-game homestand that ends tonight. Defenseman Kevin Bieksa likely won't suit up for his fourth straight game due to an undisclosed injury.
There is also no timetable for the return of Sedin, though that didn't stop head coach Alain Vigneault from messing with the media on Monday.
"From what I understood, there was a big setback," the coach said when asked for an update on Sedin. "The last couple of days, especially this morning, he came in and he said to [head athletic trainer Mike Burnstein] that he felt like Hank [twin brother Henrik Sedin] today, so that's not good.
"No, there's nothing new," Vigneault added with a laugh. "Nothing to report."
The Ducks end their season on a three-game swing through Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary after wrapping up their home schedule with Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Oilers. Jonas Hiller stopped 13 shots as Anaheim lost its second straight and ended with a 21-18-2 record at home this season.
In what could have been the final home game of his career, Teemu Selanne had the Ducks' only goal and nearly tied the game in the closing seconds. Selanne netted his 26th tally of the season and 663rd of his career.
"I think there's still a lot of passion and excitement in the game for me, but I am thinking about the future also," Selanne said following the contest. "I've always had a great relationship with the fans. They have really made this a home for me and my family. It's such an honor to play so many games in front of them. Thank you."
Fellow Finn Saku Koivu drew a secondary assist on Selanne's tally, but remained without a goal since Feb. 21 for a Ducks club that is 12-17-9 on the road this season.
Anaheim has won two of three this year versus the Canucks and is 4-1-1 in its past six at Vancouver.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.