Miller hat trick helps Canucks ground Jets
WINNIPEG — Bruce Boudreau had two big reasons to be happy after the Vancouver Canucks snapped a three-game winless skid with a 5-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.
The Vancouver coach was glad to see J.T. Miller fill the net with his second career hat trick. He was also pleased goaltender Spencer Martin didn’t let that happen behind his crease and earned his first career victory.
“It’s great for him,” Boudreau said of Martin’s first win in his third game with Vancouver, and sixth overall. “I think that’s three outstanding games he’s played for us in a row.
“I can’t be happier. He kept us in there and he got points in every game for us. I think it’s the makings of a really good goalie.”
Martin, who also played three games for Colorado in 2016-17, made 33 saves to extended Winnipeg’s winless streak to a season-high six games.
He had stopped 47 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss to Edmonton earlier in the week and was also in net when the Canucks lost 2-1 in overtime to Florida. Vancouver goalies had been hit with COVID-19, including Martin.
“It’s incredibly special, and just even to get an opportunity to play and having it go well and get a win, I don’t know if it’s sunk in yet,” said Martin, 26, of Oakville, Ont. “But hopefully we just keep building off it. It’s a really special day for me.”
Miller scored once on the power play and twice at even strength for the Canucks (19-19-5), giving him a team-leading 15 goals on the season. He also added an assist.
“J.T., he drove the bus early on,” Boudreau said. “He could have had two more, I thought.”