THE BIG MATCHUP

J.T. Miller vs. Jordan Binnington

In the clubs’ last regular-season meeting on Jan. 27, Miller scored a pair of second-period goals to spark a 3-1 comeback victory for the Canucks, who stretched their home-ice win streak to nine games. The Miller 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 league scoring. The Canucks went 2-0-1 in the season series and in the final game, it was Miller’s willingness to do what he does best — get to prime shooting areas and unleash a quick release. His first goal came off a spin-a-rama move in the slot after receiving a pass and beating a surprised Allen low to the glove side. And his second goal was culmination of a 3-on-2 rush in which Miller took a Jake Virtanen feed and his one-timer went through Allen. In the season series opener, Miller got to Binnington by getting into position in the slot to deposit a Tyler Motte shot off the post before the Blues starter could react. What does all this mean for the playoff series opener Wednesday? The reunited Lotto Line (6/40/9 jersey numbers) excelled in a qualifying series win over 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. It’s something that Boeser and Pettersson are learning and something

Miller has always has in his DNA.