The Los Angeles Kings will try to post their longest winning streak in almost four years tonight in a matchup with the Vancouver Canucks at GM Place.
The Kings have won a season high-tying four straight games for the third time this year and have also notched a point in eight straight for the second time in 2009-10. Los Angeles handed Dallas a 3-2 shootout loss on Saturday to improve to 7-0-1 in its last eight games. The club put together a 6-0-2 run from October 19-November 4.
Los Angeles' latest run has them tied with San Jose for first place in the Pacific Division with 45 points, tied for the most in the Western Conference.
The Kings haven't won five straight since February 11-March 7, 2006.
Anze Kopitar and Alexander Frolov scored in regulation, while Michal Handzus has the winner in the shootout. Jonathan Quick made 25 saves to improve to 7-1-1 with a 2.15 goals-against average in his last nine games.
"We seem to have a flair for the dramatic right now," forward Justin Williams said. "We are playing well, creating points, and still have a lot more to give. That's the positive thing. We are not playing our best hockey yet we're winning games. That definitely bodes well for us in the future."
The Kings begin a four-game road trip tonight and are 11-6-1 as the guest thanks to wins in five of their last six on the road. Los Angeles, though, begins the swing without Wayne Simmonds, who suffered a knee injury on Thursday versus Phoenix.
Simmonds has nine goals and 20 points in 33 games this year after posting nine goals and 23 points in 82 games as a rookie last year. He will undergo surgery on Monday and his return timetable is still unknown.
The Canucks continue an eight-game homestand tonight and have won the first two contests of the residency, which runs through December 26. After a win over Atlanta on Thursday, Vancouver recorded a 4-3 triumph versus Minnesota on Saturday.
Daniel Sedin and Mason Raymond each had a goal and an assist, with Sedin running his point streak to six games (6 goals, 5 assists). Brother Henrik notched three assists to give him six straight multi-assist games. He has 13 helpers in that span and is now tied for second in the NHL in scoring with 41 points.
Alexandre Burrows and Ryan Kesler also scored for the Canucks, who scored a trio of power-play goals, have won six of their last nine and improved to 12-4-0 at home this season.
"That was big for us," Henrik Sedin said of the team's power play. "We had a lot of chances of late and the puck hasn't gone in for us, but tonight it did."
Roberto Luongo made 38 saves, including 18 in the second period, to notch the win.
These two clubs have met twice this season, with the Canucks notching both a home and a road win to run their series winning streak to four games. Vancouver has also won six of the last seven meetings and three straight as the host.
Update: Canucks forward Kyle Wellwood says he is playing tonight after being a healthy scratch for the last two games. Canucks coach Alain Vigneault says Wellwood will be a game time decision. Defenceman Alex Edler skated on his own this morning for the first time since injuring his shoulder last week. His status is still listed as week-to-week. - CTV BC Sports
