Vancouver, British Columbia (My Sportsbook) - Two of the best teams in the Western Conference square off for the second time in less than a week this evening when the Detroit Red Wings skate into GM Place to face off with the Vancouver Canucks.

Vancouver, which defeated Detroit for the second time this season on Sunday, enters Friday's clash on a losing note after falling 3-2 to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.

Todd Bertuzzi scored both goals for the Canucks, who had a two-game winning streak halted. Dan Cloutier turned away 22 shots in the setback.

Vancouver, which paces the Northwest Division with 61 points, has won four of its last five games on home ice, where it will be for the next four games.

The Red Wings also come into Friday's contest on a losing note following Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

Brett Hull scored his 699th career goal and added an assist for Detroit, which has lost two in a row and three of its last four (1-2-0-1). Igor Larionov and Kris Draper also found the back of the net for the Red Wings, while Curtis Joseph made 17 saves.

Hull needs one more goal to become the sixth member of the 700-club, joining Wayne Gretzky (894), Gordie Howe (801), Marcel Dionne (731), Phil Esposito (717) and Mike Gartner (708).

Nicklas Lidstrom set up Hull's goal and extended his point streak to five games.

Backup goaltender Manny Legace could find his way into the starting lineup tonight, as Joseph is 13-16-4 in his career against the Canucks. He has also struggled in recent games at GM Place and was pulled in the second period of a 4-1 loss there earlier this season.

On the injury front, defensemen Mathieu Dandenault (groin) and Chris Chelios (leg) did not skate in practice on Thursday and are questionable for tonight.

Detroit, which trails the St. Louis Blues by one point, will be playing the second installment of a four-game road trip tonight. Away from home this season the Red Wings 11-8-4-1m but they have dropped four of their last six on enemy ice.

Vancouver, which has outscored Detroit 8-2 in the two meetings this season, is just 3-16-4 in its last 23 matchups against the Red WIngs. The Canucks have also struggled with Detroit at home, where it is just 2-7-3 in the last 12 meetings.