Music: {allcanada} DANIEL SEDIN ON PACE TO WRITE NHL FAMILY HISTORY

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

{allcanada} DANIEL SEDIN ON PACE TO WRITE NHL FAMILY HISTORY

VANCOUVER -- By following in his brother's footsteps Daniel Sedin could write some NHL family history.

The Vancouver Canucks' left-winger is in the race for the Art Ross Trophy as NHL scoring leader. He is also among the players mentioned as a candidate for the Hart Trophy as league MVP. His twin brother Henrik won both awards last year.

No brothers have won back-to-back scoring titles or MVP awards. The normally stoic Daniel flashed a smile when asked if the Sedins could be the first.

"I would like to think I'm as good as he is," Daniel said with a laugh Wednesday.

"He had a heck of a season last year. For me to do the same thing would be tough."

Henrik Sedin, who is a few minutes older than Daniel, said he believes his little brother can keep the Art Ross trophy in the family.

"I do now," the Canuck centre said after Vancouver practised at Rogers Arena. "I didn't a few years ago.

"He's really consistent. That's his main thing. We're not guys that are going to be flashy or be in the highlight reel every night. He's there, he's scoring goals and he's doing good things for us."

Henrik Sedin, who is also Vancouver's captain, won the scoring race last year with career highs of 29 goals and 83 assists for 112 points. Usually the setup man for Daniel, Henrik's season was even more impressive considering his brother missed 18 games with a broken foot.

This year Daniel is battling Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lighting in the points race. Heading into Wednesday night's game Daniel had 32 goals and 47 assists for 79 points, one more than Stamkos and four ahead of Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis.

Henrik Sedin is fourth with 15 goals and 59 assists for 74 points.

The scoring title isn't something the closely knit brothers talk about.

"It's nothing we think about," said Daniel. "It you think about those types of things, you usually start to play a lot worse.

"You start to think about points instead of playing the right way. Henrik did a good job last year of focusing on playing the right way. We are going to do the same thing this year. For this team, it's about winning in the playoffs."

Of greater concern for the Sedins is the way Vancouver has played the last several weeks.

The Canucks continue to lead the NHL with a 40-15-9 record for 89 points, three better than the Philadelphia Flyers.

But over their last 10 games the Canucks are 5-5. In five of those contests Vancouver has scored two or less goals. The Canucks relied on goaltender Roberto Luongo to make 30 saves in a 2-1 shootout win over the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday night.

"We haven't played great," said Henrik. "In December and January we did things we aren't doing right now.

"We are making minor mistakes that are costing us games here and there. We know we can play better than this."

Daniel said the Canucks may have lost some focus as the long NHL season drags on.

"Every season, this is the time when everyone is mentally tired and it's a little bit tough to get up for games," he said. "We need to get going and play a little better than we have been.

"We can't really go into the playoffs playing the way we have right now. We need to step it up a little bit so when the playoff time comes we don't have to change anything."

Brothers have been in the thick of the scoring race before.

Doug Bentley won the scoring title in the 1942-43 season while brother Max finished third. Bill Cook won the crown in 1932-33 with brother Bun eighth in scoring.

Doug Bentley also was the league MVP in 1943 while Max earned the honour in 1947.

Phil Esposito finished second in the league scoring in 1969-70 while brother Tony won the Vezina as the NHL's top goaltender and finished second for the Hart.

Henrik said sharing a bit of history with his brother would be great.

"It would be fun," he nodded. "It is nothing he is focused on."

Daniel said he'd rather share a bigger trophy with his brother.

"The icing on the cake would be winning the Stanley Cup," he said. "In this room, that's what we are focused on."