Canucks at Senators preview

CANUCKS (1-2-1) at SENATORS (3-0-2)
7:30 p.m. ET; TSN5, SNV, NHL.TV

Goaltender Craig Anderson will start in goal for the Senators.
Goaltender Anders Nilsson, who signed a two-year, $5 million contract (average annual value $2.5 million) with Vancouver on July 1, is expected to get his first start for the Canucks, who look to end a three-game losing streak (0-2-1). Nilsson is 2-0-1 against the Senators in his career with a 2.62 goals-against average and .927 save percentage.

Players to watch

Canucks forward Thomas Vanek has two points (one goal, one assist). His next point will be the 700th of his NHL career. He signed a one-year, $2 million contract with Vancouver on Sept. 1.
Senators center Kyle Turris has seven points (two goals, five assists) in a three-game points streak, and leads Ottawa in scoring.

They said it

"We have to be better, we know that. A lot of it is intensity and winning puck battles. That's No. 1." -- Canucks center Henrik Sedin
"I am just going to try and come in here, play my game and not try and shake things up." -- Senators captain Erik Karlsson

Canucks projected lineup

Daniel Sedin -- Henrik Sedin -- Markus Granlund
Sam Gagner -- Bo Horvat -- Thomas Vanek
Sven Baertschi -- Alexander Burmistrov -- Brock Boeser
Derek Dorsett -- Brandon Sutter -- Jake Virtanen
Michael Del Zotto -- Erik Gudbranson
Derrick Pouliot -- Chris Tanev
Ben Hutton -- Troy Stecher
Anders Nilsson
Jacob Markstrom
Scratched: Alex Biega, Michael Chaput
Injured: Loui Eriksson (knee), Alex Edler (knee)

Senators projected lineup

Zack Smith -- Kyle Turris -- Ryan Dzingel
Bobby Ryan -- Derick Brassard -- Mark Stone
Mike Hoffman -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Tom Pyatt
Nate Thompson -- Alexandre Burrows
Dion Phaneuf -- Erik Karlsson
Johnny Oduya -- Cody Ceci
Mark Borowiecki -- Chris Wideman
Fredrik Claesson
Craig Anderson
Mike Condon
Scratched: Logan Brown
Injured: Colin White (left wrist), Ben Harpur (shoulder)

Status report

Karlsson is expected to begin the game with Phaneuf as his partner. … Senators coach Guy Boucher said he will decide at game time if he will use 11 forwards and seven defensemen for the fourth straight game. … With Sutter a game-time decision because of illness, Chaput was called up from Utica of the American Hockey League, where he had one goal and one assist in four games.

Stat pack

Anderson has 39 career NHL shutouts and needs one to tie Frank Brimsek and John Vanbiesbrouck for second place all-time among United States-born goaltenders. Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings leads with 45. … Dorsett is expected to play his 500th NHL game. … The Senators are 15-for-15 on the penalty kill this season.