Canucks fall to Stars for 4th straight loss

The Vancouver Canucks weren't about to pin Sunday's loss on the officials.

Still, it didn't stop them from letting off some steam.

Henrik Sedin's second-period goal was controversially waved off for "incidental contact" on Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen as the Canucks' scoring struggles continued in a 2-1 loss to Dallas.

Down 1-0 after the first, Vancouver looked to have tied the score at 6:42 of the second when Vancouver's captain beat Lehtonen upstairs from a sharp angle on a power play.

But the celebrations were short-lived after officials deemed that Daniel Sedin had interfered with Lehtonen.

Television replays appeared to show no contact between the two players, which left both the crowd at Rogers Arena and Canucks coach John Tortorella incensed.

"It's a bad call. It's a made-up call," said a frustrated Henrik Sedin. "If it's a 50-50 call, then I buy it. If it's a 40-60, I buy it. Even a 20-80 (call) ... tough to take."

Tortorella said he never got an explanation, but added that the NHL needs to change how it reviews goals.

Controversial call

"I'm not going to whine about this and that. It's a huge call that was the wrong call, but doesn't determine the winning and losing of the hockey game," said Tortorella, whose team has scored just four goals in losing four straight. "If you don't see it, don't call it. 

Added Daniel Sedin: "It's tough, but the chances we had today, we have to score more than one goal. That shouldn't be the difference.""You have to be sure on that play and I just don't think they were sure. It was the wrong call."

Even Lehtonen, who was brilliant in a 42-save performance against the snake-bitten Canucks, was surprised the goal was waved off.

"It happens so fast," he said. "I wish they would maybe use some video replay or something just to make (the calls) right." 

'You have to be sure on that play and I just don't think they were sure. It was the wrong call.'- Canucks coach John Tortorella

Valeri Nichushkin and Erik Cole had the goals for Dallas (11-7-2), which was coming off a 7-3 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday and extended its road winning streak to six games.

Henrik Sedin eventually did score in the third period for Vancouver (11-8-3), which got 21 saves from Roberto Luongo as the Canucks fell to 4-4-1 at home.

"You've just got to play. That's the bottom line," said Luongo. "Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don't but you can't let that stuff affect you in a negative way on the ice."

After Lehtonen held the Dallas fort in a second period that saw Vancouver hold a 20-5 edge in shots, Cole made it 2-0 early in the third. Henrik Sedin made a bad decision to step up at the Stars' blue-line while covering for a pinching Kevin Bieksa, with Cole scoring his second of the season at 1:42 on the resulting 2-on-1.

Henrik Sedin finally got Vancouver on the scoreboard at 3:06 when he chipped a shot over Lehtonen with the Canucks on the power play for his fourth of the campaign.

Lehtonen shuts the door

Vancouver made a late push, but Lehtonen wasn't really troubled much the rest of the way in recording his 10th win of the season as the Canucks mustered just 10 shots in the final period.

"We're professionals. We've got to start burying those chances. Really, enough's enough," said Canucks forward Ryan Kesler, who played his 600th career game. "We have to bear down and not get frustrated, but we have to capitalize. That's on us."

The Canucks' 28th-ranked power play had another chance on the same man advantage after the disallowed goal in the second period, but Lehtonen made a great stop on Bieksa.

Canucks forward Alexandre Burrows then redirected a pass from Henrik Sedin that beat Lehtonon but not the post as Vancouver led 33-13 on the shot clock after 40 minutes.

"We've done it a couple different ways on this road trip," said Cole. "Kari was great for us tonight. You could tell he had great focus and was on his game, and really weathered the storm in the second period.

"He's been fantastic. Night after night he continues to surprise even us making unbelievable saves."

Another bright spot for the Stars has been their top line, which continued its recent hot streak when Nichushkin opened the scoring at 9:33 of the first period. Benn worked the puck behind the net to Tyler Seguin, who in turn fed the 18-year-old Russian on Luongo's doorstep for his second of the season.

Seguin had four goals and an assist against Calgary on Thursday, Benn finished with a goal and five assists, and Nichushkin picked up two assists.

"They have been real good," said Stars head coach Lindy Ruff. "They had a couple really good opportunities they didn't convert on, but we know it isn't going to keep going at this pace. I hope it does, but it probably won't."

Vancouver, which was coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, nearly grabbed an early lead on a Henrik Sedin breakaway that was stopped by Lehtonen less than a minute in.

"I thought our team played hard," said Tortorella. "We just need to stay within ourselves and keep on playing and not get frustrated and not let it get to us.

"It's not about blowing things up, it's a matter of staying with it."

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