Miller helps Ducks stop Hurricanes in shootout
RALEIGH, N.C. — Anaheim Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said goalie Ryan Miller was brought in to be a veteran presence and not just a backup to starter John Gibson.
But Miller didn’t get the opportunity to show what he could do over the first 10 games of the season.
On Sunday he got that chance and rose to the occasion, stopping 34 shots as the Ducks beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in a shootout.
“In tonight’s appearance he saved our butt on numerous occasions,” Carlyle said. “We told him not to accept being here as a backup. We want him to compete. That’s where the competition between the two goaltenders is unique. But it’s a benefit to us if we can have a 1-A and 1-B.”
Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf left the game in the second period with what Carlyle described as an upper-body injury and will be evaluated today.
“I thought (Carolina) had great jump in the second period and that was a hard one to grind out,” said Miller, who had three point-blank saves in the overtime. “We were able to hold onto it and that was nice.”
Corey Perry scored the only goal in the shootout.
Jakob Silfverberg tied it with just under five minutes remaining in the third period for Anaheim. Ondrej Kase and Derek Grant scored in the first period.
“Obviously coming in were playing a team with a lot of speed up front,” Silfverberg said. “We got off to a good start, but we had a rough second period. We kept pushing and came back in the third. To see (Miller) come back and push as hard as he did was a big bonus for this group.”
Jeff Skinner, Jordan Staal and Justin Faulk scored to rally the Hurricanes from a 2-0 deficit in the opening period. Scott Darling stopped 22 shots. JETS 7, PENGUINS 1: In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Blake Wheeler scored three of Winnipeg’s five goals in the first period and the Jets routed Pittsburgh.
Brendan Lemieux scored his first career goal for Winnipeg on a slap shot from the point at 12:20 of the third. The son of Claude Lemieux made his NHL debut Oct. 20.
Andrew Copp, Joel Armia and Mark Scheifele also scored for the Jets, who chased Matt Murray early. Connor Hellebuyck made 31 saves.
Winnipeg (5-3-2) scored three times in a span of 34 seconds late in the first to break it open against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.
FLAMES 2, CAPITALS 1: In Calgary, Sean Monahan scored the game-winning goal midway through the third period and Mike Smith made 30 saves to help the Calgary Flames to a victory against Washington.