The Los Angeles Kings had an opportunity to move atop the National Hockey League standings with a victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday.
But the league's hottest team ran into two of the league's hottest players - Daniel and Henrik Sedin - and some superior special teams. The Canucks forwards extended their point streaks to seven games and helped dropped the visiting Kings 3-1 before 18,810 at General Motors Place.
Vancouver has won the first three games of its season-long eight-game home stand, and halted Los Angeles's winning streak at four. It did so by killing off 46 seconds of a five-on-three Kings advantage in the first period, and scoring a power-play goal later in the frame.
"Special teams won the game," Kings centre Anze Kopitar said. "We didn't generate anything. They draw a penalty and score five seconds in."
Ryan Kesler scored one minute into the game, and Sami Salo had the aforementioned power-play goal later in the period. Los Angeles head coach Terry Murray called a time out just two minutes into the game, saying his team came out flat and was guilty of unacceptable mistakes on the first shift.
"Everything seems to be clicking right now," Kesler said. "Other than that one goal late in the first period I thought we played a pretty good game
"We really wanted to focus on the start of each period and that includes the beginning of the game. If we have a good start it kind of puts a team back on its heels and we've done a good job of that."
The Kings, who had won eight of their previous 10 games, remain tied with the San Jose Sharks for first place in the Western Conference, one point behind the league-leading Washington Capitals. The Canucks are tied for ninth place in the West, and remain below the post-season cut-off line.
Both Sedin brothers drew assists on Salo's goal, which continued their scorching runs this month. Daniel, who was honoured by the NHL as the second star of the week, has six goals and six assists over the last seven games. His brother, Henrik, has 14 assists over the same span.
Mason Raymond scored with five minutes left in the third period, an insurance tally that helped extend another personal streak. Raymond has goals in three consecutive games, and has set a new career-high with 12 on the season.
The Canucks, who improved to 13-4 on home ice, have underachieved for most of the season, but have three victories against the Kings, mostly because their penalty-killing has been a perfect (12-for-12). Vancouver has won five straight against L.A. dating back to last season, and can sweep the season-series on April 1 at the Staples Center.
Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault fiddled with his lineup, re-inserting former Maple Leaf Kyle Wellwood after a two-game benching.
Wellwood replaced tough guy Darcy Hordichuk, and Vigneault may have more roster decisions as early as this weekend, as defenceman Alexander Edler (shoulder) and winger Michael Grabner (ankle) are skating on their own and targeting pre-Christmas returns. Also on Monday, the team recalled defenceman Aaron Rome from a conditioning stint with the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose.
The Kings were without wingers Ryan Smyth (upper body) and Wayne Simmonds, who underwent knee surgery back in California on Monday. Simmonds will be re-evaluated next week, while Smyth is due back on Dec. 26, after the Kings complete this three-game road trip through western Canada.
They also lost forward Jarret Stoll, who left in the third period with what Murray called a pulled groin.
Roberto Luongo, a likely choice for the Canadian Olympic team, was nearly perfect, making 24 saves as Edmonton Oilers president Kevin Lowe, a member of Hockey Canada executive team who will select the 2010 team, watched from the press box.
Luongo was beaten by Alexander Frolov with 17 seconds remaining in the opening period. Jonathan Quick, a candidate for the U.S. Olympic team, made 25 saves for the Kings.