Canucks

You had to know it couldn't be that easy. These are the Kings. Nothing comes easily for them except disappointment. They had a chance Wednesday to add to their modest list of franchise firsts and sweep a best-of-seven playoff series, but were stymied by the top-seeded Vancouver Canucks, who rediscovered their grit and passion in an impressive 3-1 victory before a disappointed crowd at Staples Center. An effort that was very much like what the Kings gave in winning the first three games and moving to the brink of their first playoff series win since 2001.

Vancouver Canucks star Daniel Sedin was back in the building ... and back on the ice. As for Game 4 against the Kings? His readiness will likely come down to a game-time decision Wednesday. The forward, who has been out since March 21 because of a concussion, rejoined his teammates at practice in El Segundo on Tuesday afternoon. It was the first time in eight days he has taken part in a full practice.  “It felt great. It's been a tough four weeks," said Sedin, who flew to Los Angeles from Vancouver on Monday.

Yesterday, in fact, has not seemed so far away. Not for victory-starved Kings fans, who savored long ago playoff success from 1993, pulling it out for close examination, and, well, reassurance during the lost years. The Kings have won one playoff round, in 2001, since that famous run to the Stanley Cup Finals by Wayne Gretzky and friends. They pulled within one game of doubling that total with Sunday's 1-0 victory against the Canucks at Staples Center on Sunday night, taking a 3-0 series lead against the league's best team.

Dustin Brown's leadership abilities were doubted outside the Kings' locker room but not by those who sit beside him. His teammates' faith was justified. So, apparently, is his staunch belief the Kings were better than they showed while sliding to eighth in the West this season. Brown wristed a long rebound past Vancouver goaltender Cory Schneider 6 minutes 30 seconds into the third period Sunday to lead the Kings to a 1-0 victory over the top-seeded Canucks and the first 3-0 series lead in the club's long and generally unhappy playoff history.

The Vancouver Canucks announced Monday that winger Daniel Sedin, who missed the first three games of their playoff series against the Kings because of a concussion, will join the team for a full practice on Tuesday. A loss to the Kings on Wednesday at Staples Center would end the season for the Canucks, who won the Presidents' Trophy for having the NHL's best regular-season record. The announcement, made on the team's Twitter feed, was something of a surprise. Sedin, who was injured March 21 when he took an elbow to the head from Chicago's Duncan Keith, had practiced once last week but was unable to play in the Canucks' two losses at Vancouver.

The presence of Daniel Sedin in Los Angeles is not a sure-fire guarantee he will play for Vancouver in Game 4 of their playoff series with the Kings. First, there is the matter of Tuesday's full practice with the Canucks and how he is feeling the following day. Vancouver Coach Alain Vigneault spoke Monday afternoon in Santa Monica about Sedin's status and potential availability for Wednesday's game at Staples Center. Sedin last practiced with his teammates a week ago. "Again, that won't be my decision on that," Vigneault said.

  The Kings, trying to take a 3-0 playoff series lead for the first time in their history, will face a different goaltender Sunday night at Staples Center than they faced in the first two games of their series against the Vancouver Canucks. Cory Schneider will start in goal instead of Roberto Luongo, the Canucks announced Sunday afternoon. It's more an effort to shake things up than an indictment of Luongo, but it's an interesting move by the top-seeded Canucks.

  It could turn the playoff series around or backfire in spectacular fashion. The Canucks are rolling the dice by putting Cory Schneider in for veteran Roberto Luongo tonight in Game 3, and this will be the first time Schneider has faced the Kings in his career. The other Canucks' change for tonight is minor: Dale Weise supplants Andrew Ebbett on the fourth line. Of course, the goalie switch was front and center. Canucks Coach Alain Vigneault was asked if not having played the Kings in the past was an advantage or disadvantage for the 26-year-old Schneider.