Sedin ensures Canucks don’t need Game 7

LOS ANGELES -- Daniel Sedin played the role of hero in the Vancouver Canucks' series-clinching 4-2 victory in Game 6 against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday night at Staples Center. His goal with 2:03 remaining in the third period broke a 2-2 tie and helped send the Canucks to the second round of the playoffs for the third time in four years.

Sedin described the goal as "fluky," and it's hard to argue. A one-timer attempt by Mikael Samuelsson resulted in his stick breaking and the rebound coming right to Sedin, who beat a helpless Jonathan Quick to put the Canucks ahead.

After the game, Sedin talked to the media in the Canucks' locker room:

Q: Roberto Luongo really kept you in the game during the first two periods. How important was he in this victory?

Sedin: He kept us in a lot of games. Tonight was no different. That won us the game.

Q: This was your second comeback victory of the series. What was it like in the locker room when you were trailing 2-1 after two periods?

Sedin: Even though we played poorly for 40 minutes, I think in here we felt like we had a good chance. It's a good mindset to have.

Q: Can you describe your game-winning goal?

Sedin: Lucky. (Henrik Sedin) made a great pass to Sammy, and they blocked the shot. The rebound came to me. It wasn't really a hard shot. It found the back of the net. It's one of those things.

Q: It seemed like the plan all along was to shoot high on Quick. Was that case?

Sedin: We talked about that since Day One. During games, it happens so quick, so you don't really have a chance to think. But you look at the goals that went in, it was a lot of high shots and it worked out good for us.

Q: How pleased are you to avoid a Game 7 in this series?

Sedin: It was a tough series. We know they have a skilled team and they don't give up a lot of chances so we knew were in for a tough one. To win this one in six games was really big for us.

Q: What was the difference over the final three games of this series, which were all Canucks victories?

Sedin: I think we killed a few penalties and we kept going 5-on-5. I think 5-on-5 is the strength of our team. I think it won us this series.

Q: Were you a little overwhelmed by the Kings' start in the first period?

Sedin: We knew they were going to be desperate. But if we were in it after two periods we knew had a good chance. It's no different tonight, we came back to win the game.

Follow Dave Lozo on Twitter at: @DLozoNHL