Game Time: 7:30 PM PST | 10:30 PM EST
Location: Staples Center | Los Angeles, CA
TV Broadcast: Home Team: FSN-PT
Away Team: SNET-P
Radio Broadcast: 1150 AM; XM 204 Online broadcast: NHL Radio Internet Stream: Must use Sopcast 
The Vancouver Canucks might be in a more comfortable playoff position if it wasn't for their poor play against the lowly Los Angeles Kings.
The Canucks look to avoid being swept in a season series by the Kings for the first time in 27 years when the teams meet Monday night at Staples Center.
Vancouver (34-24-10) is tied with Nashville for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference as it remains in the mix with Calgary, Colorado and Minnesota for the top spot in the crowded Northwest Division.
Though the Canucks are alive in the playoff race, it's not because of their performance against Los Angeles (27-38-5), which has an NHL-worst 59 points and is looking at a fifth consecutive season without a playoff appearance.
The Kings have outscored the Canucks 12-7 in winning the first three games between the teams this season, including a 4-3 victory at Vancouver on Jan. 19 in the most recent meeting. Los Angeles has not swept a season series from the Canucks since winning all four contests in 1980-81.
Vancouver, though, begins its four-game road trip Monday coming off a 4-2 win over St. Louis on Saturday for its second straight victory since losing four in a row.
Alex Burrows had a goal and assist, while Taylor Pyatt and Ryan Kesler each added two assists for the Canucks, who have scored 10 goals in their last two victories after recording just six during their four-game skid.
Luongo, however, has posted a 3.58 goals-against average in losing twice to Los Angeles this season after winning three straight against the Kings last season.
Burrows has a goal and an assist in each of his last two games. Known as more of a defensive forward, Burrows has 11 goals in his third NHL season, one more than his previous two in the league.
If Los Angeles is able to stop the surging Canucks and complete the sweep, it must bounce back from a 5-2 home loss to Montreal on Saturday. Anze Kopitar had a goal and assist, while Rob Blake added a goal for his 700th NHL point in the Kings' sixth loss in their last seven games.
Los Angeles rookie Erik Ersberg made 18 saves Saturday, two days after stopping 40 shots in a 2-0 home win over Ottawa for his first career victory.
The Kings have a home record of 15-18-2 and their last 10 games is a record of 2-6-2.
The Canucks have a road record of 15-13-5, and their last 10 games is a record of 6-2-2.
The Kings will have a short 2 game road trip starting Thursday night against the Nashville Predators at Sommet Center.
"I think we played a pretty good game,"
Kopitar said. "We were battling hard, but we gave up a couple of easy goals that we shouldn't have, and that's what cost us the game."
Here are a couple of post-game quotes, thanks to George Foulsham.
Dustin Brown:
"They're a good team. Their goalie played real well. They got the goals they needed when they needed them.
"We keep giving teams two-goal leads and then we fight to come back."
Erik Ersberg:
"Obviously, it's my job to stop the puck and I didn't stop all of them. But you can't get too down on yourself.
"All games are tough games. You just have to play your game. They're a good power play team. It was a pretty hard situation out there.
"I'm just enjoying it being up here."
Marc Crawford:
"They're a team that can score. They're a dangerous club on the rush and on the power play. But if we put the kind of effort in most nights like we had tonight, we're going to come out on top.
"We didn't quite get as strong goaltending as we had the other night. The other night was excellent."
On the Kings goal that was disallowed in the first period:
"That's not the spirit of the law, but that's the breaks. You just have to persevere."
Los Angeles Kings
Jason LaBarbera (Groin injury on 2/21/08) IR
Ladislav Nagy (Sore neck on 1/19/08) IR
Vancouver Canucks
Lukas Krajicek (Shoulder surgery on 1/24/08) IR
Aaron Miller (Shoulder injury on 3/7/08) day-to-day
Brendan Morrison (Wrist surgery on 12/11/07) IR
01/19/08 - Kings @ Canucks 4-3 (Kings win)
12/10/07 - Canucks @ Kings 4-2 (Kings win)
10/19/07 - Kings @ Canucks 4-2 (Kings win)
Leading Scorers:
Forwards: 
Kopitar, LA - 68 points (29 G, 39 A, -18) | H. Sedin, VAN - 66 points (13 G, 53 A, +15)
Defensemen: 
Visnovsky, LA - 36 points (6 G, 30 A, -22) | Ohlund, VAN - 23 points (9 G, 14 A, -1)
GAA:
LA – 3.29 (30th in NHL)
VAN – 2.41 (6th in NHL)
Avg. Goals:
LA – 2.79 (12th in NHL)
VAN – 2.60 (22nd in NHL)
Power Play %:
LA – 18.2 (13th in NHL)
VAN – 17.8 (14th in NHL)
Penalty Kill %:
LA – 78.9 (27th in NHL)
VAN – 83.1 (11th in NHL)
(As of 3/9/08)
Pacific Division Standings:
1. Dallas Stars (42-25-5) 89 pts
2. San Jose Sharks (40-21-8) 88 pts
3. Anaheim Ducks (39-25-7) 85 pts
4. Phoenix Coyotes (34-30-5) 73 pts
5. Los Angeles Kings (27-38-5) 59 pts
Western Conference Standings:
1 Red Wings 96
2 Stars 89
3 Wild 81
4 Sharks 88
5 Ducks 85
6 Flames 80
7 Avalanche 80
8 Canucks 78
9 Predators 78
10 Coyotes 73
11 Blackhawks 73
12 Blue Jackets 73
13 Oilers 71
14 Blues 68
15 Kings 59
Bottom of the Cellar Standings:
26 Maple Leafs 70 points, 12 games remaining
27 Blues 68 points, 14 games remaining
28 Thrashers 68 points, 12 games remaining
29 Lightning 60 points, 13 games remaining
30 Kings 59 points, 12 games remaining
Key/Division Games Tonight:
Rangers @ Sabres 4:00 PM PST | 7:00 PM EST
Blues @ Flames 6:30 PM PST | 9:30 PM EST