Edler returns for Canucks vs. Kings

CANUCKS (24-13-9) at KINGS (27-14-5)

TV: SNET-P, FS-W

Last 10: Vancouver 4-3-3; Los Angeles 3-6-1

Season series: This is the fourth of five games between the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings. The Kings are 3-0-0 against Vancouver this season and most recently earned a 3-1 victory Jan. 4 at Staples Center.

Big story: A major piece of Vancouver's roster will be back in the lineup Monday, as defenseman Alexander Edler rejoins the lineup.

Edler has been out since Dec. 3, when he sustained a knee injury against the Nashville Predators. He has three goals and six assists in 27 games.

"I had a good practice today and we'll see tomorrow," Edler said. "Mentally, I'm ready."

Goaltender Roberto Luongo practiced Sunday and will also join the Canucks on their three-game road trip that also features stops against the Anaheim Ducks and Phoenix Coyotes. Luongo won't play Monday, as Eddie Lack gets the start.

Luongo hasn't played since Jan. 4, also against Los Angeles. He stopped 46 of 48 shots in a 3-1 loss.

The Canucks' No. 1 goaltender told the team's website Sunday that the injury he sustained in a game against the Winnipeg Jets on Dec. 22 and the one against Los Angeles were not related. He is 16-10-6 with a 2.23 goals-against average and .922 save percentage in 33 games this season.

"One has nothing to do with the other," Luongo said. "Totally different injury on a different type of play. There's nothing in common with either injury."

Team Scope:

Canucks: Forward Zac Dalpe was promoted to the top line alongside Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin and scored a goal in Vancouver's 2-1 victory against the St. Louis Blues on Friday. Dalpe skated with the Sedin twins during practice Sunday and will likely find himself on the top line again in Los Angeles.

"I'm an energy guy," said Dalpe, who was acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes during training camp. "I like to skate and shoot the puck. It just so happens to be on a different line."

Kings: Los Angeles, which suffered a 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings at Staples Center on Saturday, did not take the ice Sunday. Instead, the Kings held workouts, team meetings and video sessions. They are 2-1-1 on their five-game homestand, which concludes Monday against Vancouver.

"We tighten it up when we're at home," coach Darryl Sutter told LA Kings Insider. "Five-game homestand, we win [Monday], that'd be a [good] homestand. That's how we try and approach those things. Just trying to review some stats with guys today and get some banged-up guys ready for [Monday]. Get some of the energy back."

Who's hot: Over the past four games, Henrik Sedin has five assists and Daniel Sedin has four. Chris Higgins has a goal and two assists in the past four. … Kings center Anze Kopitar has three assists in the past four games; Mike Richards has an assist in back-to-back games.

Injury report: Vancouver remains without forward Alexandre Burrows (jaw) and defensemen Ryan Stanton (ankle) and Andrew Alberts (upper body).