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Canucks vs. Stars

THE MATCHUP

The Canucks are coming off a 1-1-2 road trip that ended with a 2-1 overtime loss Tuesday to the Los Angeles Kings and an OT winner by Anze Kopitar, pictured. They’re opening a four-game homestand, but have travelled for the 13th time in 14 games … The Stars blew a three-goal, thirdperiod lead and lost 4-3 in a shootout Tuesday in Calgary, but remain atop the Western Conference at 19-5-1. Dallas leads the NHL with 3.52 goals per game and its power play is third at 26.3 per cent.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Stars have won nine straight games against the Canucks, including four in a row at Rogers Arena. Vancouver’s last win was 4-3 on Feb. 21, 2013 in Texas. The Stars are already 2-0 against the Canucks this season, although one win was in a shootout and the other in overtime. Vancouver squandered a 3-1 third-period lead and lost 4-3 at home on Oct. 29, but rallied in the third period Friday in Dallas only to lose 3-2 on a shootout goal by Tyler Seguin, pictured.

STAR POWER

Dallas boasts the NHL’s most dangerous duo in linemates Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. Benn, pictured, is second in scoring with 18 goals and 17 assists in 25 games, one point ahead of Seguin. And at ages 26 and 23, respectively, they’re still getting better. Victoria’s Benn had an eight-game points streak snapped in Calgary, but has been on the scoresheet in 20 of 25 games this season.

BRANDON, MAN DOWN

The Canucks announced key centre Brandon Sutter, out since Nov. 10, had surgery Tuesday for a sports hernia and will miss another four to six weeks. General manager Jim Benning defended the handling of Sutter’s injury. “This is the quickest way for him to be 100 per cent and … not have something that will linger all year,” Benning said of Sutter, pictured. LW Jake Virtanen (hip), LW Chris Higgins (head), D Chris Tanev (hand) and D Ben Hutton (foot) are questionable.

MARKSTROM OR

MILLER?

If the Canucks start goalie Jacob

Markstrom, it will be the first time this season Ryan Miller has gone two games without playing. Markstrom, pictured, was brilliant in the OT loss in L.A. As of Wednesday, Miller had played more than any NHL goalie. He looked tired in a 4-0 loss Monday in Anaheim. Benning said Markstrom, who missed the first month of the season due to injury, will play more often.