|
 The Vancouver Canucks goalie earned one of his easiest shutouts
Tuesday night, blanking the New Jersey Devils 2-0 at Rogers Arena.
Miller stopped 20 shots for his second shutout of the season. Right
winger Alex Burrows scored the winner in the second period, and
center Shawn Matthias added the clincher in the third period.
"Every game is unique, and (the Devils) didn't have a lot going on
early," said Miller, who is tied for the league lead in victories
with Nashville's Pekka Rinne, each with 14. "You've got to be awake
for those type of games."
The Canucks (15-6-1) had 10 shots on New Jersey goalie Cory
Schneider before the Devils managed one on Miller, a floater from
the point 3:31 into the game.
New Jersey, playing its final game of a four-game Western Canada
road trip, looked as if it couldn't wait to get back home, although
the Devils had a two-day rest before Tuesday's game. The Devils (9-10-3) didn't created a good scoring chance until
Miller stopped center Stephen Gionta on a two-on-one at 6:45 of the
third period. Miller denied left winger Dainius Zubrus in the slot a
minute later.
"That's kind of how it's been this year," said Schneider, who is
winless in three starts against his old team. "We were pushing late,
trying to get chances and looks, and all of a sudden it's 2-0.
"It's tough to come back against a team like Vancouver, they come
fast and they move the puck. They're one of the better teams we've
seen."
The Canucks got on the scoreboard at 1:14 of the second period after
defenseman Kevin Bieksa corralled a clearing attempt by Devils
defenseman Marek Zidlicky at the blue line.
Bieksa sent a slap pass to Burrows at Schneider's far side, and
Zidlicky didn't cover the Vancouver right winger as Burrows tapped
the puck into a wide-open net.
It was Burrows' fifth goal in 17 games. Last season, he managed just
five goals in 49 games during an injury-riddled campaign.
Burrows also grazed a hard wrist shot off the post at 9:30 of the
third period on a two-on-one.
"I used to score on (Schneider) in practice sometimes with that
shot," he said.
Bieksa, whose wife was sitting with Schneider's wife in the stands,
also wired a hard shot that hit Schneider on the mask during the
Canucks' opening-game flurry.
"He apologized for that," Schneider said. "I don't know if that one
got away from him."
[to top of second column] |
Playing its second full game without defenseman Dan Hamhuis,
Vancouver saw its remaining corps of defenders dig hard.
Luca Sbisa was a physical presence. Ryan Stanton, two games off
being a healthy scratch, had an assist and was plus-1.
"They played tough," Canucks coach Willie Desjardins said of his
defensemen. "The Devils have some high-end guys, so you can't get
too aggressive or they'll make you pay.
"At the same time, if you're not aggressive enough, they'll take
advantage of that."
Miller improved to 14-3-0.
Schneider, who started New Jersey's first 20 games before getting a
break on Saturday at Calgary, stopped 34 of 36 shots. He fell to
9-9-2.
New Jersey finished its four-game trip 1-2-1.
The Canucks, who went 2-0-1 on a three-game homestand, now head out
on a seven-game Eastern road trip.
NOTES: Canucks RW Jannik Hansen had his scoring streak end after
scoring five goals in the previous three games. ... The Canucks paid
a pregame tribute to Pat Quinn, who died at 71 Sunday. Quinn juggled
roles as Vancouver's president, GM and coach from 1987-97. A
two-time coach of the year and coach of Canada's 2002 Olympic
gold-medal team, his record of 35 straight unbeaten games with the
1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers still stands. ... Canucks RW Alex
Burrows (upper body) returned after two games. ... Canucks C Bo
Horvat, 19, was told he will stay with the club and not be sent down
to junior hockey. ... Devils G Cory Schneider, 0-0-2 vs. the Canucks
last season, was Vancouver's first pick (26th overall) in 2004. He
was traded for New Jersey's first round selection in 2013, which the
Canucks used to take Horvat ninth overall. ... Out injured: Devils
LW Ryane Clowe (concussion), D Bryce Salvador (lower body), D Jon
Merrill (hand); Canucks D Dan Hamhuis (leg), LW Tom Sestito (groin).
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
