Kings 3 - 2 Canucks
Final - 2OT
  for this game

Canucks, Kings clash in Vancouver

Jan 17, 2012 - 4:10 PM (Sports Network) - The Vancouver Canucks look to have a little more jump in their step tonight as they try to extend a six-game home point streak over the Los Angeles Kings.

Despite playing for the first time in three days, the Canucks came out with little energy on Sunday versus the visiting Anaheim Ducks. They mustered just three shots in the first period before getting things going, but it was too late in a 4-2 setback.

Cody Hodgson and Mason Raymond scored for Vancouver, which had won two straight and four of five before dropping the opener of a six-game homestand. The Canucks are 12-6-2 as the hosting team this season.

"It didn't seem like we had a lot of jump or energy tonight," Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault said. "Our execution, because of that lack of energy, wasn't very good."

Roberto Luongo beat the Blues on Thursday for the 211th victory of his Canucks career, matching Kirk McLean for the most in club history, but fell short in his bid to break the mark on Sunday despite 30 saves.

The Northwest Division-leading Canucks trail the Blackhawks, Blues and Rangers by one point for the most in the NHL and will look to improve on their 5-0-1 mark over the Kings in the past six meetings at home in this series.

Vancouver had won three in a row and eight of 11 over Los Angeles prior to a 4-1 loss at the Kings on Dec. 31.

That victory is part of Los Angeles' current 8-1-5 string, with head coach Darryl Sutter on the bench for all but one of those games. He took over for the fired Terry Murray and interim coach John Stevens on Dec. 21.

Following a win over Calgary on Saturday to kick off a three-game road trip, Los Angeles suffered a 2-1 overtime setback in Edmonton the following night. Justin Williams had the lone Kings goal, but also took a penalty that led to the overtime winner.

Anze Kopitar picked up his 400th career point with an assist on Williams' goal, while Jonathan Quick made 31 saves.

"I thought Edmonton played a good game, but we've got to face facts. Everything they got was off our mistakes, which were plentiful, to say the least in the first and second periods," Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi said.

Los Angeles, which sits two points behind San Jose for the top spot in the Pacific Division, is seventh overall in the Western Conference.






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