The Vancouver Canucks (26-16-3) return to action after the All-Star break and open a six-game home stand when they host the league-leading Anaheim Ducks (31-10-6) tonight at Rogers Arena. The Canucks have not played since a 4-1 loss in Tampa Bay at the end of a five game road trip one week ago tonight.

Of their 37 remaining games, the Canucks will play 21 in front of their home fans, however, they  have dropped two straight on home ice (3-1 vs FLA and 1-0 vs CGY), are 4-5 in their past nine at home and are 7-7-1 in 15 games at Rogers Arena since the start of November.

Ryan Miller is expected to make his fifth straight start in goal. He allowed four goals in four starts with two shutouts on the road trip. In January, he is 4-3 with a 1.59 GAA and a .947 save percentage. Radim Vrbata had one goal and one assist at the All-Star Game in Columbus on Sunday. He has five goals in his past 10 NHL games and 12 goals in his last 26. Alex Burrows has one goal and three points in his past four games.

Brad Richardson (ankle) appears as if he’ll miss a third straight game. The Canucks begin life without Kevin Bieksa who suffered a broken hand blocking a shot in Tampa. Meanwhile, tonight marks Dan Hamhuis’ first home game since a serious groin tear early in a November 20th game against the Ducks. Bo Horvat scored his first NHL goal that night, a 4-3 shootout loss.

The Canucks penalty killing remains one of the team’s hallmarks. The Canucks have killed off 16 straight penalties in their past four games. They are 33/36 (91.7%) on the PK in January and 67/72 (93.1%) in 21 games since December 1st. Overall, they are second in the NHL on the penalty kill (88.3%).

The Ducks arrive in Vancouver on a roll having won five in a row prior to the All-Star break. They are 7-1 in their past eight games. With 68 points in 47 games, they are three points ahead of Nashville for top spot in the overall standings. They are 12 clear of San Jose in the race for first in the Pacific Division.

Statistically, Anaheim is not the dominant team their record suggests: goals per game (13th), shots per game (10th), goals against per game (14th), shots against per game (11th), PP (17th), PK (18th), five-on-five goals for/against (13th), Corsi (12th) and Fenwick (10th). However, the Ducks find ways to grind out victories, being a remarkable 22-0-6 in one-goal games. They are also 22-0-5 when opening the scoring.

Their lone all-star, Ryan Getzlaf had one goal and one assist in Columbus on Sunday. He leads the team with 15 goals and 50 points, and enters play tonight seventh in NHL scoring and tied for third in assists.

Ryan Kesler has 13 goals and 30 points in his first season in Anaheim. He scored in a 6-3 win over Calgary in the Ducks final game before the All-Star break. That was his first goal and just his third point in 11 games since Christmas. He leads the team in shots on goal (139) and is second on the club with 48 PIM.

Frederik Anderson is expected to start in goal. He is 6-0 in January with a 2.41 GAA and .922 save percentage.

The Ducks have won four straight in Vancouver and, overall, are 8-0-1 in their last nine against the Canucks and 10-1-2 in their past 13. All three of the games between these teams this season have been settled after 60 minutes of play with each team winning a shootout on the road and the Ducks beating the Canucks 2-1 on Cam Fowler’s overtime goal on December 28th in Anaheim.

The Ducks will return to Vancouver to finish the regular-season series on Monday March 9th.