Samuelsson, Raycroft lead Canucks past Kings

Mikael Samuelsson scored in the first period and again in the third round of the shootout, leading the Vancouver Canucks to a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.

Andrew Raycroft made 30 saves in his first start of the season for the Canucks, who have won four of five after a slow start.

After Ryan Kesler scored for Vancouver in the first round, Jack Johnson answered for Los Angeles in the second. Raycroft made a pad save on Ryan Smyth before Samuelsson beat Jonathan Quick with the winner.

Scott Parse scored his first NHL goal in the first period for the Kings, who have earned points in six straight games despite consecutive 2-1 shootout losses.

The Kings (8-4-2) fell one victory and one point shy of the franchise records for October, both set in 1990 with nine wins and 19 points. Quick made 14 saves for the Kings, who returned home from a 2-1 shootout loss at San Jose on Wednesday night with another low-scoring loss.

Los Angeles had scored 20 goals in its four victories leading up to its trip to the Shark Tank, but Anze Kopitar - second in the NHL in scoring behind Washington's Alex Ovechkin - hasn't scored in the Kings' past two games.

Los Angeles outshot the Canucks 2-to-1 and dominated puck possession for long stretches against Vancouver. But Raycroft was sharp in his first start of the season in place of star goalie Roberto Luongo, who's sidelined with a broken rib. Vancouver finishes its southern California trip in Anaheim on Friday night.

Raycroft had played just 53 minutes in relief of Luongo during his first month with Vancouver, but he'll be in the Canucks' net for at least a week after Luongo decided he couldn't keep playing through a cracked rib from last Saturday's victory over Toronto. Luongo played two games with the injury, giving up five goals in a loss to Detroit on Tuesday, before taking the break.

Parse put the Kings ahead midway through the first period with his first goal in his fourth NHL game, converting a one-timer from Teddy Purcell. Samuelsson tied it late in the period, tying Henrik Sedin for the team lead with his sixth goal.

After a scoreless second period, the Kings stayed tough on defense, limiting Vancouver to two shots in the third period.

NOTES: The Canucks recalled G Cory Schneider from the AHL's Manitoba Moose to back up Raycroft. ... The Kings hosted "Canadian Night" at Staples Center, including a concert by Canadian band The Tragically Hip across the street after the game. ... Talk show host Craig Ferguson attended the game.