The Vancouver Canucks made quick work of the Edmonton Oilers.
The Canucks took an early 2-0 lead and went on to beat the Oilers 5-2 on Sunday to run their winning streak to four and points string to 13.
Daniel and Henrik Sedin each had a goal and an assist, Sami Salo, Kevin Bieksa and Chris Higgins also scored, and Cory Schneider made 26 saves. The Canucks are 10-0-3 during their points streak and 38-15-6 overall. They are two points behind Detroit for the NHL lead.
''It doesn't even seem like the run has gone on that long because we weren't playing our best in the first half of that streak,'' Schneider said. ''We were just finding a way to scratch out points. We've really been playing good hockey for the last six or seven games though. I feel like we are hitting our stride right now and have a little more energy than we did.''
The game opened a six-game trip that includes a stop Detroit on Thursday night. The Red Wings beat St. Louis on Sunday for their NHL-record 23rd straight home victory.
''This was a good start to our trip,'' Henrik Sedin said. ''From the first faceoff, we started well in the game and we were never really in any trouble. This is a long and tough road trip for us and it was nice to start it off with a win like this one.''
Shawn Horcoff and Magnus Paajarvi scored for Edmonton. The Oilers have lost three in row and five of their last six to drop to 22-30-6.
''We have to be really disappointed with the start tonight,'' Edmonton associate coach Ralph Krueger said. ''Digging out of a hole against a team as strong as Vancouver is a difficult task. The game was almost out of reach right off the bat.''
Krueger directed the team for the second straight game. Head coach Tom Renney sustained a concussion after taking a puck to the head in practice.
The Canucks opened the scoring 53 seconds into the game. Daniel Sedin sent the puck cross-ice to Henrik Sedin for an easy goal with goalie Nikolai Khabibulin unable to get across in time.
At 6:34 on a 5-on-3 power play, Salo slammed home a one-timer for his 300th career NHL point.
''You can't play catch-up hockey in today's game,'' Oilers veteran Ryan Smyth said. ''You have to play with pride, play for your jersey and for your job. That team went to the Stanley Cup final last year. It was an opportunity to show everyone that you are a good team.''
Devan Dubnyk started the second period in the Edmonton net with Khabibulin out with a groin injury.
Horcoff scored at 1:08, but Vancouver restored its two-goal cushion with 4:59 left when Bieksa kept the puck in at the point and scored on a long shot through traffic.
Higgins made it 4-1 with 3:20 to go in the period, and Paajarvi scored with 1:37 left.
Daniel Sedin completed the scoring at 33 seconds of the third with his 26th of the season.
Notes: It was the fifth of six meetings between the two teams. Vancouver has won four of the first five.
... Edmonton was without defenseman Corey Potter (groin) and rookie standout Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (shoulder).
