Canucks 2, Ducks 1

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -Daniel Sedin and Matt Cooke each scored, and the Vancouver Canucks beat the struggling Anaheim Ducks 2-1 on Sunday night.

The defending Stanley Cup champion Ducks lost two of three on their post-Christmas swing through western Canada, beating Edmonton on Thursday before falling to Calgary on Saturday. They are just two games above .500 heading into the new year.

The NHL's most penalized team, Anaheim again found itself in trouble in the first period.

Jonas Hiller (right) got the start on Sunday in place of Jean-Sebastien Giguere (AP)

With George Parros and Sean O'Donnell in the box for consecutive interference penalties, the first coming in the offensive zone and the second while already down a man, Henrik Sedin found Daniel Sedin in open ice for his team-leading 17th goal of the season.

Vancouver took a 2-0 lead four minutes into the second period when Cooke finished off a 3-on-2 rush with a wrist shot from 25 feet that slipped past Jonas Hiller.

Hiller got the start in net for Anaheim in place of Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who gave up four goals in a 5-3 loss to Calgary on Saturday.

Anaheim cut the lead to 2-1 midway through the third period with both teams playing a man short.

Scott Niedermayer put a no-look backhand pass right on the stick of Ryan Getzlaf in the high slot. Getzlaf's one-timer got past Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo for his 14th goal of the season.