(Sports Network) - The Calgary Flames will try to take over first place in the Northwest Division tonight, as they host the rival Vancouver Canucks at Pengrowth Saddledome.

The Flames have 88 points on the season, one fewer than first-place Minnesota, which is idle tonight. Calgary has also played one less game than the Wild and will make that up tonight.

Calgary was in action last night and had a two-game winning streak ended with a 2-0 loss in Colorado. The Flames failed to get any of their 23 shots by the Avalanche's Jose Theodore.

Miikka Kiprusoff allowed two goals on 23 shots before he was lifted for Curtis Joseph, who finished with two saves for Calgary. The Flames remained sixth overall in the West, two points up on Vancouver and Colorado and are trying to win the Northwest for the first time since 2005-06.

Calgary has won three straight and six of its last eight at home, though, and is 20-10-9 as the host this year.

Jarome Iginla, who is third in the league with a team-high 48 goals and 91 points failed to light the lamp just one game after notching a hat trick. He still has 12 points (8 goals, 4 assists) in his last eight games, and has posted a goal and two assists in five tests versus Vancouver this season.

Kiprusoff, meanwhile, is just 1-3-1 with a 3.51 goals-against average in five starts versus the Canucks in 2007-08.

Vancouver won its first four meetings with the Flames this year before dropping a test against them on New Year's Eve, the last time the teams met. The division rivals will play three times including tonight over the season's final weeks.

Daniel Sedin leads Vancouver with 27 goals this year and he has three goals and five assists in five tests versus the Flames this year. That is the most points he has against any one club this season.

Twin brother Henrik, who leads the Canucks with 55 assists and 70 points, has two goals and five helpers against Calgary this year.

Neither player factored into the club's loss last time out, as Vancouver dropped a 2-1 decision to Minnesota. Sami Salo lit the lamp for the Canucks, who had a three-game winning streak snapped. Roberto Luongo allowed two goals on 21 shots in defeat.

Vancouver is tied with Colorado for third in the Northwest, and seventh overall in the West, three points back of the Wild. The Canucks have played two fewer games than the Wild and one less than the Flames, meaning a win tonight would be huge for their chances at winning the division for the second straight season.

The Canucks are 18-15-5 on the road this year and play in Colorado on Wednesday.

Vancouver has won eight of its last 11 against the Flames and four of its last six in Calgary. Luongo is 4-1-0 with a 2.18 GAA against Calgary this year.