VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- After a couple of sub-par performances, the Vancouver Canucks needed a confidence lift coming out of the Christmas break.

A 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday filled that order.

Loui Eriksson scored during a first-period power play, then Henrik Sedin made it 2-0 early in the second as the Canucks snapped a two-game losing streak.

"We needed a win," said head coach Willie Desjardins. "You drop a couple and then that makes it tough to come back.

"We feel every game that we go in, we have a chance to win, and we showed it tonight. It wasn't that we outplayed them or dominated them, but I think all year we've been able to ... stay in games and keep it close."

Vancouver goaltender Ryan Miller was the difference in the game, making 36 saves. The Kings outshot Vancouver 31-8 over the last two periods.

"They didn't have too much as far as odd-man rushes," said Miller. "There weren't two-on-ones or three-on-twos.

"It was a clean game as far as that goes and that's the kind of game you have to have to beat L.A. They are not going to give you a whole lot."

Desjardins called Miller "one of the best in the league."

"When he's on, he's on," Desjardins. "He made some good saves and was confident. When he came in, he handed everything clean."

The Canucks took control of the game early after L.A.'s Jake Muzzin was called for high sticking Eriksson just 54 seconds into the first period.

During the power play, Bo Horvat won a battle along the boards and sent a pass between his legs to Eriksson in the corner. He skated out untouched and beat Kings' goaltender Peter Budaj on the far side.

"We had a great first period," said Eriksson, who collected his seventh goal of the season. "Everyone came out really hard. That's why we drew some penalties and got the calls and scored on one of them.

"Millsy made some great saves for us. We kept a lot of shots from the outside as well."

It was the first goal the Kings allowed in 27 penalty kills over nine games. It also was the third consecutive game Vancouver had scored first.

"I think their defenseman got a little bit aggressive on Bo," said Eriksson. "He made a great pass.

"They gave me lots of room. It was nice."

Sedin's goal 23 seconds into the second period came off an innocent looking shot from just inside the blue line by Troy Stecher. Sedin was able to deflect the bouncing puck past Budaj.

It was the first time since Dec. 8 that Vancouver held a 2-0.

The Canucks (15-18-3) have just three wins in their last nine games (3-5-1).

"It's the second-half push now," said Stecher. "We're not in a playoff spot and that's where you want to be."

Tanner Pearson scored for L.A. (17-14-4). The Kings have just one win in their last five games (1-2-2).

"It was frustrating," said defenseman Drew Doughty. "Their winning goal was pretty lucky, hit a few things, bounced off the ice and then a tip in.

"I thought we deserved a little better . . . but you have to play well for 60 minutes in this league to win games. They dominated in the first period because of all the penalties we took."

Pearson, who scored for the first time in 16 games, said the Kings had plenty of chances.

"We peppered them pretty good and maybe just not capitalizing on second opportunities," he said. "I think pucks were there, we just were not getting that one to go in.

"They're a pretty good home team. They came out ready to go and we got behind the eight-ball pretty quick."

Budaj finished with 18 saves.

NOTES: D Alex Edler returned to the Canucks' lineup after missing 13 games with a broken finger. ... RW Jannik Hansen is out four-to-six weeks with a knee injury suffered in a Dec. 22 loss to Winnipeg. ... RW Jayson Megna, a healthy scratch in a 4-1 loss Dec. 23 in Calgary, will take Hansen's place on the top line with C Henrik Sedin and LW Daniel Sedin. ... Healthy scratches were RW Anton Rodin, D Alex Biega and D Andrey Pedan. ... The Canucks' homestand continues Friday against Anaheim. ... RW Dustin Brown started on the top line with C Anze Kopitar and LW Marin Gaborik for the first time since L.A. won the 2014 Stanley Cup. ... C Tyler Toffoli (lower body), who has missed two games, isn't expected to return for at least another week. ... The Kings were playing the eighth of nine consecutive road games. ... LW Tom Gilbert was a healthy scratch. ... The Kings' road trip continues Friday in Edmonton.