Ryan Miller, Canucks shut out Predators

VANCOUVER -- Vancouver Canucks goalie Ryan Miller hit one milestone and Henrik Sedin got closer to another, but all either was concerned about was combining for a win.
Miller made 30 saves and Sedin scored with 7:32 remaining to lead the Canucks to a 1-0 win against the Nashville Predators at Rogers Arena on Tuesday.

Sedin scored on a bank shot from just above the goal line after defenseman Luca Sbisa shot wide on a 4-on-2 rush. It was his first goal eight games and his 999th NHL point as he closes in on becoming the first player to reach 1,000 points with the Canucks.
WATCH: All Predators vs. Canucks highlights
"The focus in here hasn't been on trying to reach 1,000," Sedin said when asked if he wanted to be on the ice when the Predators pulled goalie Pekka Rinne.
Sedin, who admitted he would like to get his 1,000th NHL point at Rogers Arena on Friday before leaving for a road trip, was more focused on shutting the Predators down defensively.
"For us there was a lot of focus on our defensive play," Sedin said. "We did a great job of keeping them to the outside. When they got their chances Millesy was there."
Thanks to Miller, who moved into a tie with Evgeni Nabokov for 20th all time with his 353rd NHL win, the Canucks (21-19-6) did just that to end a four-game losing streak. Vancouver has a point in 10 of their past 11 games (7-1-3).
Rinne made 25 saves for the Predators (20-17-7), who failed to win four straight games for the first time this season after having an early goal called off.

Nashville forward Derek Grant appeared to score his first NHL goal with 4:50 left in the first period after a scramble in the crease that followed a Miller turnover behind his own net. Miller, who appeared to have the puck under his blocker briefly at one point, was incensed, but after a lengthy review it was announced as no goal because the referee intended to blow his whistle.
"I don't understand any explanation I got tonight," coach Peter Laviolette said. "It's frustrating. We're in a playoff battle. We need every point so we're walking away with none tonight."
Miller felt he was interfered with.
"The puck's under my blocker hand and the crook by my foot," he said. "I get jammed through my knee area. It's not a play on the puck in my mind and it puts me out of position, and then I'm scrambling and I can't collect the puck."

Goal of the game

Sbisa missed the net from the high slot but the puck bounced off the boards to Sedin and he banked a backhand in off Rinne.

Save of the game

Miller threw out his left pad to deny Filip Forsberg on a shot from the left faceoff dot after a nice pass from behind the net 4:12 into the third period.

Highlight of the game

Daniel and Henrik Sedin combined on a nice passing play to send Loui Eriksson in alone with 4:27 left in the second period, but Rinne shut down his backhand attempt between the goalie's legs.

Unsung performance of the game

Predators defenseman Alexandre Carrier made his NHL debut after Petter Granberg joined defensemen P.K. Subban and Roman Josi on injured reserve Tuesday, and made a key block on a Bo Horvat chance in the slot 6:51 into the third period.

They said it

"I just tried to get to the net and we were all in there jamming away and thought it was a good goal on the ice, and I guess he changed his mind later on. … It's been a long time coming for that but that's just the way it is sometimes." -- Predators forward Derek Grant on having his first NHL goal called back
"Honestly, I didn't even know about it until after the game. I got a text on it. It's a tough league. All the wins are hard, so it was good to get." -- Canucks coach Willie Desjardins on getting a message from his son to let him know he'd won his 100th NHL game

Need to know

Subban missed his 15th game with an upper-body injury despite practicing Monday and Tuesday. Nashville claimed Brad Hunt off waivers from the St. Louis Blues but he couldn't join the team in time so Carrier, 20, made his NHL debut. … Canucks right wing Reid Boucher, who played three games for the Predators this season, made his Vancouver debut eight games after being claimed off waivers because Jayson Megna was a late scratch with the flu.

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What's next

Canucks: Host the Florida Panthers on Friday (10 p.m. ET; SNP, FS-F, NHL.TV)
Predators: At the Calgary Flames on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; SNW, FS-TN, NHL.TV)