THE STORY: The Los Angeles Kings appear to be in the driver's seat as they host Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series with the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday. But the eighth-seeded Kings, who are up 2-0, have lost five consecutive playoff games at the Staples Center - including two against the Canucks in their first-round series in 2010. Vancouver, which again will be without Daniel Sedin, can look to last postseason for inspiration as the Boston Bruins lost their first two at home against Montreal in the first round before ultimately becoming Stanley Cup champions.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, CBC, RDS, FSN West (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE CANUCKS: Sedin did not travel with the team to Los Angeles despite skating on his own prior to the club's regular morning skate on Friday. Coach Alain Vigneault insists Sedin's status has remained the same as it was a week ago. "Nothing's changed. I can't tell you anything more," he said. Despite the fact Roberto Luongo has played well in the series, Vigneault could decide to give his team a spark by starting Cory Schneider on Sunday. Schneider, who finished second in the league in save percentage and third in goals-against average (1.96), made his first career playoff start in Game 6 of last year's conference quarterfinals against Chicago but left the contest with cramps. "I would feel pretty comfortable," Schneider said of starting Game 3. "I had a taste of it last year, I know what to expect."
ABOUT THE KINGS: Los Angeles has its special teams to thank for its series lead. The Kings have scored three power-play goals and two shorthanders while keeping Vancouver scoreless on 10 man advantages. At even strength, the Canucks have a 4-3 edge in scoring. "The power play, it's the difference in the series," coach Darryl Sutter said. "Goaltending, special teams, if you want to upset a top, top team, that's what it comes down to." Los Angeles is aware owning a 2-0 lead is no guarantee for a series victory, especially with its recent playoff history at home. "We have to make sure we don't give them any life," Anze Kopitar said. "As soon as we have a chance to finish them off, we have to finish them off. We didn't do that two years ago, but I think everybody's learned from that." Jarret Stoll added, "You can't be relaxed and take your foot off the gas because momentum changes very quickly, and it changes quite often in a series."
OVERTIME:
1. The Kings have a 2-0 series lead for the just the third time in franchise history and first since 1976.
2. Vancouver has lost five of its last six conference quarterfinal games.
3. The Canucks have dropped the first two games for the first time in 18 series in which those contests were at home. They have never come back from an 0-2 deficit.