Miller to lead attack against Blues’ tandem between pipes

THE BIG MATCHUP

J.T. Miller vs. Jordan Binnington

In the last regular-season meeting between the teams on Jan. 27, Miller scored two second-period goals to spark a 3-1 comeback victory for the Canucks, who at the time stretched their home-ice win streak to nine games.

Miller’s efforts were significant because they came against backup goalie Jake Allen. Miller also scored to rally his club to a comeback victory in the season-series opener against Binnington, a 4-3 shootout decision on Oct. 17. And with back-to-back games Sunday and Monday in this best-of-seven, first-round playoff series, Blues coach Craig Berube plans to use both his stoppers. That might bug some shooters, but not Miller. He led the Canucks in scoring this season with a career-high 72 points (27-45) in 69 games and finished 17th in NHL scoring.

The Canucks went 2-0-1 in the season series and, in the final game, Miller did what he does best: get to prime shooting areas and unleash a quick release.

The reunited Lotto Line (6/40/9 jersey numbers) excelled in a qualifying series win against the Minnesota Wild — combining for 10 points (4-6) in four games.

Elias Pettersson and the rejuvenated Brock Boeser are customary triggermen on the alignment, but the post-season has been about getting to the inside and to the net.

FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Markstrom finding form Whether it was the backto-back, or four games in six days, Jacob Markstrom looked fatigued and was not sharp Friday in a 5-4 comeback overtime win to clinch the qualifying series.

2. Lords of discipline

Staying out of the box is a post-season staple for success. The Canucks flirted with disaster against the Wild when defenceman Tyler Myers took nine penalties in the series.

3. Draw more penalties

The Canucks had the fourthranked power play in the regular season and it could be a difference-maker because symmetry was better as the qualifier evolved. However, the Canucks went just 1-for-10 in the regular-season series against the Blues, with Bo Horvat scoring.

4. Bottom-six deliveries Whether it was the rejuvenated Brandon Sutter, or just a better push from the third and fourth lines against the Wild, the Canucks will need their bottom six to be effective in shutdown roles and secondary scoring to upset the Stanley Cup champions.

5. A better Boeser

Boeser’s two goals in the qualifying round came from getting to the net. That was just as important as his nine series shots.