Demko dynamite
Canucks down Senators 5-1
The Vancouver Canucks’ so-called “lotto line” is starting to cash in. The top trio of Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller — dubbed the lotto line for their jersey numbers 6, 40 and 9 — combined for three goals and five points Wednesday as the Canucks downed the Ottawa Senators 5-1.
Miller had two goals and an assist in the victory, but feels he and his linemates have more to give.
“I think we need to push ourselves,” he said. “I know it looks pretty for you guys because I got some points today but at the same time there’s not much difference in the game.”
The line did appear to find its latent chemistry on Wednesday, however.
Early in the second frame, Pettersson looked as if he were about to wind up for a big shot on a breakaway, then dropped a pass to defenceman Quinn Hughes instead. Hughes slipped the puck to Miller and the winger buried it from in tight.
It was Miller’s first goal of the year. Last season he led the
Canucks in scoring with 72 points (27 goals, 45 assists) in 69 regular-season games.
The NHL’s COVID-19 protocols kept him out of the lineup for Vancouver’s first three outings this year.
Miller admitted that he initially struggled after returning to the lineup.
“Sure at the beginning, probably the first three games. My legs were seizing up like halfway through the games and it was hard. I definitely had couch legs,” he said.
“But last three or so I felt pretty good. Obviously, I would like to be better on a personal standpoint but my legs weren’t the issue. I was skating well, just wasn’t making the plays I wanted to with the puck in the hard areas.”
Miller also assisted on Pettersson’s goal Wednesday night, a blast from the point on a second-period power play.
Tyler Motte also scored twice for Vancouver (4-5-0) on Wednesday, helping the Canucks string together backto-back wins for the first time this season.
Josh Norris scored Ottawa’s lone goal on the power play in the first period Wednesday.
Despite the final score, the Senators (1-5-1) tested Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko early and often on Wednesday, outshooting Vancouver 24-7 in the first period alone.