Originally published Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 7:36 PM

League-leading Vancouver Canucks win in Los Angeles | NHL

Daniel Sedin scored a controversial goal with 8:24 to play, Roberto Luongo made 21 saves in his 300th career victory and the Vancouver Canucks opened a five-game trip with a 3-1 victory over Los Angeles.

By The Associated Press

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MARK J. TERRILL / AP

Vancouver Canucks forward Jannik Hansen, left, has a good view of the puck as it bounces off Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick on Saturday in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES — Although the Vancouver Canucks lead the league, they have been a .500 team for a full month.

Daniel Sedin thinks that might be changing after a tough victory Saturday that left the Los Angeles Kings crying foul.

Sedin scored the tiebreaking goal with 8:24 to play, Roberto Luongo made 21 saves in his 300th career victory and the Canucks opened a five-game trip with a 3-1 victory over Los Angeles.

Jannik Hansen scored in the first period and Alexandre Burrows added an empty-net goal for the Canucks, who have stayed on top of the standings despite alternating wins and losses for a month. Vancouver hasn't played terribly, but also hasn't always displayed the 60-minute dedication Sedin saw against the Kings.

"We knew they were going to come out physical, and I think that got us going," said Sedin, the NHL scoring leader. "This is going to be huge for us going forward after getting a test like this."

Sedin broke open a tight defensive game with his 33rd goal on a rebound of Christian Ehrhoff's shot. Defenseman Drew Doughty and other Kings were irate, claiming Sedin cross-checked Doughty into Jonathan Quick before the goal.

"That's a ... shame that that goal is allowed," Los Angeles coach Terry Murray said before storming out of his postgame interview session. "The guy's in the crease, Quick can't move his stick, and Doughty is pushed off over the top of our goaltender.

"It should not be allowed. That's a penalty."

Goaltender Quick said he was bumped by Burrows on the original shot.

Burrows told the Los Angeles Times, "I wouldn't say I ran into him. I might have nudged his stick a little bit, but it's a fast game and things are going to happen."

Doughty, a Norris Trophy finalist last season, complained throughout the final minutes, earning a misconduct penalty after Burrows scored his 18th goal.

"I made contact. There's going to be contact," Daniel Sedin said with a shrug. "I don't know, I was just battling in front. I couldn't really say."

Quick stopped 33 shots and Dustin Penner scored for the Kings, who lost in regulation for the third time in 18 games.

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