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Daniel Sedin, Luongo send Canucks past Stars 3-1

Jan 2, 2010 - 10:44 PM DALLAS(AP) -- Roberto Luongo's sharp goaltending and Daniel Sedin's lucky bounce helped the Vancouver Canucks wrap up a successful road trip.

Luongo made 31 saves, Sedin scored the go-ahead power-play goal early in the third period and the Canucks beat the Dallas Stars 3-1 on Saturday.

Sedin took a feed from his brother Henrik in a 1-all game and flicked a no-look pass toward the crease while Dallas' Mike Modano was serving a high-sticking penalty.

The puck glanced off the skate of Stars defenseman Trevor Daley and past goalie Marty Turco at 2:38 of the final period for Sedin's 11th goal of the season.

Then it was up to Luongo to make the lead stand up, and he was perfect down the stretch, stopping all 14 shots he faced in the third period.

"I think a lot of it starts with goaltending," Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said. "Roberto, when he gets on a roll like he is now just gives everybody that extra boost of confidence."

Luongo made a point-blank stop on Loui Eriksson with about 30 seconds left and used a kick save to deny Modano on a one-timer with a little over 6 minutes remaining.

"I actually didn't see (Modano's shot) and it was kind of a desperation play by me," Luongo said. "I didn't even see the shot go off or the puck, I just put my leg out there and was able to get my skate on it. It was just a reaction and fortunately I got a piece of it."

Ryan Kesler added a second-period goal and Alex Burrows had an empty-netter with 16 seconds remaining for the Canucks, who completed a 4-0-1 trip.

"We got seven out of a possible eight points, so I'm real happy with the overall road trip," Vigneault said. "The third period was more challenging, but that's why you pay the goalie the big bucks, to make the big saves, and he did."

Kesler, named to Team USA on Friday, scored on a wrist shot from the high slot at 1:30 of the second period.

Eriksson notched his fifth goal in three games. He registered his second career hat trick in Thursday night's 5-3 victory over Anaheim, and pulled the Stars to 1-all 1 after 37 seconds had elapsed in the final period, jamming a rebound past Luongo for Eriksson's 17th goal of the season.

Turco stopped 24 shots as the Stars had a two-game winning streak snapped. Dallas hasn't won three in a row this season.

Dallas' Brenden Morrow thought he'd tied it at 1-all on a power play at 18:51 of the second period when the puck went in off his right skate during a pileup in front of the net.

Luongo protested, and the play went to video review. After a delay of about five minutes, officials ruled that Morrow had used a kicking motion to put the puck into the net.

Morrow wasn't surprised by the decision, only at the amount of time it took to make it. Morrow said his skate was pushed ahead by Eriksson's stick, making it appeared that he kicked it in.

"The way the rule stands, I propelled it into the net," Morrow said. "I think Loui ended up shooting my skate out from under me. The way the rule is, I don't think they really made a mistake. I know from past experience what the rule is. I don't think (the review) needed to be that long. In my mind it was pretty obvious."

Notes: The Sedins were chosen for the Swedish Olympic team earlier this week along with Eriksson. ...The Stars played their 41st game to reach the midway point of the season. The Canucks played their 42nd. ... Vancouver is adjusting its defense after the loss of Kevin Bieksa, expected to miss about three months due to a deep skate cut above his left ankle sustained in a game at Phoenix on Tuesday night. Bieksa, who had played in Vancouver's first 40 games, had surgery Thursday to repair tendon damage. ... RW Pavol Demitra (shoulder) and C Ryan Johnson (foot) are also out for the Canucks.