CANUCKS @ MAPLE LEAFS

RECENT FORM

The Canucks are 6- 1- 1 in their last eight games and on Thursday bagged their NHL- leading 11th road win with a 3- 0 decision against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Canucks are 3- 1 on their seven- game road trip and have received goals from 10 diff erent players. The Maple Leafs lost 5- 3 at home Thursday against the New Jersey Devils but are 4- 1- 1 in their last six. They’ve scored 26 goals in those six games, and their power play is 5- for13 the last three.

WHO’S HOT

Canuck LW Shawn Matthias has four goals and six points in fi ve games, eclipsing the two goals and fi ve points he managed in the fi rst 21 games. Linemate C Brad Richardson has three goals and six points in four games. G Ryan Miller has won fi ve of six starts ... Leafs F Mike Santorelli is on a fi vegame points streak ( 1- 8- 9 pts. +7), C Tyler Bozak has points in six straight ( 5- 4- 9 pts.) and C Nazem Kadri is on a four- game tear ( 2- 4- 6 pts. + 6).

SANTO CLAUSE

Vancouverite Mike Santorelli, who rescued his NHL career with 28 points in 49 games as a Canuck last year, had hoped to remain in B. C. but signed a one- year, $ 1.5- million US contract with the Leafs. He is proving to be of tremendous value and effi cient, amassing 18 points in 25 games despite averaging only 13: 35 of ice time. Santorelli: “For me, it doesn’t matter if it’s a one-, two-, three- or four- year deal, you’ve got to come every night to play.”

QUOTEBOOK

Toronto coach Randy Carlyle on the Canucks: “They’re playing as a team, fi ve- man units. Lots of confi dence. Not a lot of space on the ice ( against them) and they’re playing at a high tempo. The Sedins ( Daniel and Henrik) are quietly back to where they were. ( Radim) Vrbata has been a real nice fi t there. ( Nick) Bonino has come in and provided another tier of off ence for them. They feel comfortable with their group and they’re playing well.”

NEXT UP

The Canucks’ busy weekend includes a game Sunday in Ottawa against the Senators. G Eddie Lack should start, so expect his mom, Mia, to tweet a photo of an aged, unmotivated, pension-guzzling senator. The team, which had an optional practice Friday in Toronto, will take another day off Monday before concluding their monster road trip Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens on the night the Habs honour the late Jean Beliveau.