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Luongo, Canucks to 2-0 series lead against Stars

Apr 13, 2007 - 1:57 PM Dallas at Vancouver 9:00 pm EDT 9:00 pm EDT Western Conference quarterfinals Canucks lead series, 1-0

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) -- Roberto Luongo would like to do without the drama that came with his playoff debut.

After a marathon victory in the series opener, the Vancouver Canucks look for a two games to none lead in their Western Conference quarterfinal series against the Dallas Stars on Friday.

In his first career postseason game, Luongo finished with an astounding 72 saves - one shy of Kelly Hrudey's playoff record - and Henrik Sedin scored with 1:54 remaining in the fourth overtime to give the Canucks a 5-4 victory on Wednesday. It marked the sixth-longest game in NHL history.

Luongo did set the record for saves in a playoff debut and crushed Kirk McLean's franchise playoff mark of 52 stops, established in Game One of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals.

"That was probably the most exhausting thing I've ever been part of," Luongo said. "Challenging physically and mentally, but we stuck with it and we got a big goal. I was telling the boys that when it was 66 (shots against), that I faced that in Florida all the time."

Canucks center Ryan Kesler, who had missed the last 35 games of the regular season with hip injury, returned for Game One but suffered a broken finger and will be out for up to five weeks.

Also Vancouver might be minus left wing Matt Cooke, who suffered a groin injury and is questionable for Friday's matchup.

Marty Turco recorded 51 saves and Brenden Morrow had a goal and an assist in the opener for Dallas, which fell to 1-8 in its last nine postseason contests that reached the extra session.

Turco hopes to get out of his playoff funk as he is just 2-9 in his last 11 postseason games. He also has lost his last five overtime decisions in the playoffs.

"After all that happened it certainly feels like all for not, like you wasted one," Turco said. "No matter what you've just got to rebound and continue to play more in their season."

Game Three is Sunday in Dallas.