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Luongo, Canucks blank Kings

Oct 31, 2008 - 6:05 AM By John Reger PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- A strong performance by captain Roberto Luongo and a pair of power-play goals lifted the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.

Playing in his 499th career game, Luongo stopped all 28 shots he faced to earn his second shutout of the season and 40th career. The 29-year-old stopped 11 shots in the first period, nine in the second and eight in the third.

"I didn't get much action the first seven minutes, but afterward, I was able to see a few shots and guys were good at breaking up some plays," Luongo said. "It made it easier for me to make saves."

The Canucks supported their goaltender by converting two of their four power plays over the first two periods.

Daniel Sedin opened the scoring in the first period, taking advantage of a hooking penalty by defenseman Matt Greene. The Kings had just killed a 5-on-3 as captain Dustin Brown returned following a double-minor for high-sticking, but the Canucks were able to score on the man advantage five minutes into the game.

"Lately, we've been playing pretty good, but the goals haven't been there," said Sedin, who snapped a seven-game goalless drought. "We got an early goal, and that helped. It relaxed me."

Sedin received a pass from brother Henrik and flicked a wrist shot that goaltender Jason LaBarbera managed to block with his glove. But Daniel Sedin jammed his stick into LaBarbera's glove, pushing the puck over the goal line at 5:09.

"It was fun to see the twins get on the scoresheet," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said. "Their teammates are really happy for them."

The Kings had two opportunities to tie the game. The first came on the power play at 13:02, when defenseman Peter Harrold's slap shot from just inside the blue line clanged off the left goalpost.

Alexander Frolov had the best chance when he was awarded a penalty shot with 3:18 left in the session after being tripped by defenseman Sami Salo on a breakaway. However, Frolov was unable to get off a shot, losing the puck when he went from his forehand to his backhand.

"I think the puck jumped on him," Luongo said. "He would have had to have gotten it up pretty quick if he wanted to put it in."

The Canucks doubled their lead two minutes later, when Mason Raymond faked a slap shot that fooled rookie Oscar Moller, skated in untouched and snapped the puck past LaBarbera's stick side.

"The energy wasn't there tonight like it was against Detroit (in our last game), and we have to regroup and come out with a better attitude," Moller said.

Los Angeles' power play struggled throughout the contest. The team was 0-for-6 with the extra skater, managing just five shots during three opportunities in the second period.

"It was a game of special teams tonight," Kings coach Terry Murray said. "They ended up with a couple power-play goals, and we have about six or seven power plays and we don't get the job done."

Vancouver's man advantage was the exact opposite. The Sedin brothers picked up assists on Kyle Wellwood's power-play tally with 7:40 remaining in the second period to give the Canucks a three-goal bulge.

Taylor Pyatt deflected defenseman Willie Mitchell's slap shot past LaBarbera at 6:13 of the third to cap the scoring.