HayesRangers

CANUCKS (4-8-1) at RANGERS (10-3-0)
7 p.m. ET; MSG, SNP, NHL.TV

Canucks team scope

The Vancouver Canucks have lost nine consecutive games (0-8-1), including the past eight in regulation. A loss Tuesday would tie the record for the longest losing streak in franchise history (10 games, Oct. 23-Nov. 11, 1997). The Canucks have been outscored 31-12 during their losing streak, and their power play is 3-for-26. "It's tough when you're losing over a stretch; that weighs on you," Canucks coach Willie Desjardins said. "How do you get out of it? Well the only way you get out of it is by playing hard. There's no shortcuts out of it. We've got to battle and we've got to make it happen. If we don't, then we stay in the streak we're in." The Canucks feel they have some positives to take away from their latest loss, 4-2 against the New York Islanders at Barclays Center on Monday. They scored the first goal, which they had only done one other time this season. They scored a power-play goal, snapping a streak of seven straight games without one. They had 32 shots on goal, marking the second time in the past 11 games they had 30 or more shots. "Losses make you better," Desjardins said. "Nobody wants them. Jokingly I've always said losing gives you character and I always say I've got enough character. I say that jokingly, but it's true. It's tough to lose."

Rangers team scope

The New York Rangers' third line of Kevin Hayes, J.T. Miller and Michael Grabner has produced 23 points on 12 goals and 11 assists in the past five games. Hayes has goals in four consecutive games and nine points in the past five games. He was named the NHL's Third Star of the Week on Monday. "We're all feeling good with each other," Hayes said of his line. "I think with [Grabner's] speed and how heavy [Miller] plays, I can kind of create plays for them and create a lot of space in the O-zone. Defensively we can be better for sure, but offensively it's just coming right now." The Rangers have won five straight games and have scored five or more goals in all of them. It's the first time the Rangers have scored five or more in at least five straight games since the 1978-79 season, when they did it in nine straight. They're averaging 4.23 goals per game, first in the NHL, and allowing 2.23 per game, which is fourth. They have outscored the opposition 25-7 in the second period.

Canucks projected lineup
Rangers projected lineup
Status report

Raanta will start, which means Lundqvist will have five full days between starts. The Rangers are coming off a stretch of five games in eight days and on Saturday, when they play at the Calgary Flames, they start a stretch of three games in four nights and 12 in 22. Getting Lundqvist rest this week is part of the plan. … Markstrom will start for the Canucks after Miller allowed four goals on 32 shots against the Islanders. … Stecher will be back in the Canucks lineup for Larsen after being scratched against the Islanders. … Virtanen will be scratched for the second straight game and fourth time this season. "Right now I don't think he's consistent enough when he plays," Desjardins said of Virtanen. "He's got lots of stuff that's unique and it makes him a very good player for the organization, but right now I've got to get him to play the way I want."

Who's hot

In addition to Hayes, Miller and Grabner, the Rangers are getting production from two of their defensemen. Skjei has six points, all assists, in the past five games, and Holden has a goal and three assists in the past three games. … Daniel Sedin has scored in back to back games.