Daniel Sedin scored the 10,000th goal in Canucks history.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Canucks weren't at their best Wednesday, but they were still good enough to get the win.

The Canucks built an early lead then relied on goaltender Roberto Luongo to stop 43 shots in winning their seventh in a row, 3-1 over the Calgary Flames.

Defenceman Kevin Kevin Bieksa scored one goal and assisted on another as Vancouver (26-8-5) remained first overall in the NHL with 57 points.

Daniel Sedin scored the 10,000th goal in the Canucks' 40-year history while Ryan Kesler collected his 20th of the season. Alex Burrows had two assists.

The Canucks are 16-1-2 in their last 19 games. Vancouver's last loss in regulation was Dec. 5 against St. Louis.

The Flames (18-20-3) suffered their second consecutive loss after winning four straight.

Calgary's Tim Jackman broke Luongo's shutout bid with just 11 seconds left in the third.

It wasn't a pretty game by any stretch as neither team showed much emotion. Despite getting the win, the Canucks were inconsistent but managed to make the most of their chances.

Calgary outshot Vancouver 14-5 in the second -- and 44-21 overall -- but had trouble controlling the puck or sustaining much pressure as Luongo faced few quality shots in the period.

With Vancouver leading 1-0 in the first, Luongo made a good stop on Olli Jokinen and then jumped on the rebound before Jarome Iginla could pounce.

There were a few tense moments early when Luongo was left flat on the ice after Canuck defenceman Keith Ballard drove Calgary's David Moss into the Vancouver goaltender. It took several minutes before Luongo regained his feet.

Early in the third, Luongo stuck out his left pad to stop Iginla's low drive from the slot.

The Canucks scored the game's first goal with just 70 seconds gone and many in the sellout crowd of 18,860 still looking for their seats.

Burrows started the play by intercepting the puck near centre. He passed to speedy forward Mason Raymond, who streaked down the boards. Raymond fed a pretty pass to an open Kesler who scored on the game's first shot.

Bieksa made it 2-0 at 16:12 with his third goal in six games when he fired a shot from just inside the blue-line that deflected off a Flame and past Miikka Kiprusoff.

Sedin made it 3-0 midway in the second when he deflected a Bieksa shot past Kiprusoff, who was playing without his stick.

Notes: Daniel Sedin has scored the first goal in a game eight times this season. ... The Canucks will induct former centre Thomas Gradin into the team's Ring of Honour on Jan. 24. ... Former Canuck Brendan Morrison returned to Vancouver for the first time in a Flames' jersey. ...Vancouver plays Edmonton on Friday, then Detroit on Saturday.