Rapids-Whitecaps preview

Colorado is on an 11-game unbeaten streak and just added veteran goalie Tim Howard, but the Rapids have struggled to generate any offense recently and have dropped out of first place in the Western Conference.

Colorado enters Saturday's game at the Vancouver Whitecaps trailing first-place FC Dallas by one point and is looking to end a string of back-to-back scoreless draws.

Howard made his return to MLS and turned away just two shots on frame in Monday's 0-0 draw with defending-champion Portland. It was his first MLS match in 13 years.

"The result, for me, it was OK," Howard told reporters after his debut with the Rapids. "Obviously, you always want to win, but we kept a clean sheet at home."

Vancouver (7-8-3) got off 27 shots in a 2-0 loss at Los Angeles on Tuesday, but only four were on target and none of them found the back of the net. It was the Whitecaps' third defeat in their last five MLS matches. They sit in sixth place in the Western Conference, just above the red line with 26 points.

The Whitecaps have suffered only one loss at home since their opening match of the season, but have been shaky defensively. Vancouver ranks 18th in the 20-team league in goals allowed with 31.

The Rapids (9-2-6), on the other hand, are thriving off of the best defense in the league. They've allowed a league-low 11 goals, and the addition of Howard enhances what was already the stingiest backline in MLS.

But the Colorado offense could use a spark, something to break the Rapids out of their recent scoring drought. No player has scored more than three goals on the season, and the Rapids are near the bottom of the league with 19 total goals.

Colorado's defense will not be at full strength Saturday, with defensive backs Sean St. Ledger and Bobby Burling, and midfielder Dillon Serna out.

This is the first meeting between the teams this season. They met three times last season, with the home team prevailing in each game.