SHANE O'BRIEN

There is always a little added motivation for a player when he plays against the team that traded him and while tonight's game won't mark the first time Shane O'Brien has faced his former team since being dealt to Vancouver, it will mark the first time that he's returned to Tampa Bay for an NHL contest since becoming a Canuck at the start of the 2008.09 season. The 26-year old is hoping a return to his old stomping grounds will spark a return for his name onto the scoresheet. He had his most productive season offensively in 2007.08 with the Lightning when he notched career-highs in goals (4) and points (21) and while appearing in a career-high 77 games.

The Port Hope, Ontario native will be looking to snap a streak of 13 consecutive games without a point when he suits up against some of his former teammates tonight. His last point was an assist back on January 7 against the Phoenix Coyotes. Last season, O'Brien faced his old team once when the Lightning paid a visit to Vancouver on February 27, 2009. He finished that game without a point and with an even-rating.

MATTIAS OHLUND

He had spent his entire NHL career as a member of the Vancouver Canucks until this season and is one of the most decorated defencemen in Canucks team history so it figures to be an odd and emotional experience tonight for Mattias Ohlund when he faces his former teammates for the very first time since signing with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 33-year old, who was drafted by the Canucks in the first round (13th overall) back in 1994, spent 11 seasons in Canuck colours where he notched 93 goals and 325 points - ranking first in both categories in the franchise's all-time list. He also currently sits fifth on Vancouver's all-time games played list with 770.

The Pitea, Sweden native, who will be making his way back to Vancouver in one week's time to help his country try and defend their Olympic gold medal, has struggled this season in the points column. He had 25 points (6-19-25) in 2008.09 in his final season in Vancouver but has managed just 10 assists in 49 games this season. He has not recorded a point in his last 16 games and is still in search of his first tally as a member of the Lightning. His overall goal drought currently sits at 51 regular season games.

BRING ON THE LIGHTNING

After two days off to soak in the Florida sunshine, the Vancouver Canucks (35-20-2) resume their 14-game road trip at the St. Pete Times Forum tonight when they face a familiar face in Mattias Ohlund and his new team, the Tampa Bay Lightning (25-21-11).

RETURN OF THE KING

We're trying to do the same things out there. The key is we can't get frustrated and if we keep doing those things, it's going to pay off. - Daniel Sedin on his line's inability to put up points over the last three games.

Looking to avoid their first three-game losing streak in a month, the Canucks knew their best players had to be their best players against the Bruins and on Saturday afternoon, their best player finally stepped up.

Captain Roberto Luongo, who had a rather trying week after getting the hook in Toronto two Saturdays ago and then being out-played by his counterpart in Montreal last Tuesday, looked thoroughly refreshed coming off three days without game action. The Canadian Olympian stopped 41 of 43 shots - including seven during sudden-death overtime - to enable his team to battle back from an early 2-0 deficit. Mason Raymond and Pavol Demitra tallied in regulation while Demitra also notched the lone shootout marker to secure a 3-2 victory for the Canucks that snapped a two-game losing streak and evened their record on their current road trip to 2-2-0.

The Canucks will look to move above the .500 mark on their road swing when they face the Lightning for the first and only time this season. They figure they'll need some of their other top players to step up in this contest as well if they hope to emerge with a victory, most notably the line of Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin and Alex Burrows who have gone three consecutive games without registering a point.

OLD FRIENDS MEET AGAIN

While the Canucks have stumbled out of the gate somewhat to start the month of February, the same can't be said for the Lightning who have won three straight games since the calendar page turned to February and are looking for their season-high fourth consecutive win when they host the Canucks.

I had 11 fantastic years in Vancouver, loved every second of it. I met some fantastic people, people I love. - Former Canuck Mattias Ohlund on his time in Vancouver.

The Canucks have not won in Tampa Bay in over seven years although, in fairness, they've played just one game in Tampa Bay since a 5-3 win way back on November 29, 2002. Their last visit to Tampa came just over two years ago on January 31, 2008 - a 4-3 victory for the Lightning. The Canucks will need to find a way to knock off a very confident team at home if they hope to pick up their third win on this 14-game trip. The Lightning have just one loss in their last six games (5-0-1) at the St. Pete Times Forum and are 16-6-6 overall at home on the season.

While these two teams are unfamiliar foes - tonight's meeting marks just the 22nd time they have faced each other since the Lightning entered the League in 1992.93 - there are at least a couple of players who will have strong ties to both teams. Shane O'Brien, who played with the Lightning from parts of 2006.07 to 2008.09, is making his first return to Tampa since being traded to the Canucks while former Canuck Mattias Ohlund is facing his former team for the first time since departing in the off-season.

The Canucks continue their road trip on Thursday when another player, Roberto Luongo, gets to make a homecoming of sorts as the Canucks visit the Captain's old stomping grounds at the BankAtlantic Center to face the Florida Panthers.

WATCH IT

Tonight's game faces off at 4:30pm PT and can be seen on Canucks TV Pay-Per-View. For information on how to order, visit canucks.com/canuckstv. Listen live on the TEAM 1040 Sports Radio or online at team1040.ca.