Miller helps Ducks gain split of back-to-back shootouts against Sharks

ANAHEIM -- Ryan Miller made 26 saves and stopped two of three attempts in the shootout for the Anaheim Ducks in a 2-1 win against the San Jose Sharks at Honda Center on Saturday.

The 40-year-old moved within one win of tying Dominik Hasek (389) for 14th place on the NHL goalies list.
"Really solid and very calming back there," Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins said of Miller. "Knocking down that extra point for us is excellent."
Isac Lundestrom scored his first NHL goal in his 36th game for the Ducks (5-5-3), who lost to the Sharks 5-4 in a shootout here Friday.
Logan Couture scored for a second straight game, and Devan Dubnyk made 32 saves for the Sharks (4-5-1), who have one win in regulation this season.
"It would have been nice to get him the two points, but he was excellent tonight," San Jose coach Bob Boughner said of Dubnyk. "He battled hard, he had desperation in his game, especially on that first power play the first period."

After Sharks defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov was called for hooking at 2:54, Dubnyk made seven of his 12 saves in the first period on that power play.
Miller, who made saves against Couture and Kevin Labanc in the shootout, said he spends considerable time studying his opponents' shootout moves and routinely practices breakaways with his teammates.
"It's just something that lives in my game," Miller said. "I like to know what guys are doing on breakaways. It kind of bleeds into other elements of the game. Habits are habits, so if you can watch a guy and his shootout habits, his breakaway habits, it's going to help you in a game."
Troy Terry and Max Comtois, who combined for three goals in the loss Friday, scored in the shootout for the Ducks.
"Those guys started battling against each other, and now they've started to battle the veteran players for ice time," Eakins said. "We always want somebody challenging somebody else for the ice time, and it's really good to see those two young guys get their feet underneath them."

Couture scored 11 seconds into the first period, the third-fastest goal to start a game in Sharks history, for a 1-0 lead.
Anaheim appeared to win the opening face-off, but San Jose forward Evander Kane poked the puck away from Ducks defenseman Jani Hakanpää at the Anaheim blue line and took it behind the net.
Kane's wraparound caromed into the slot, where San Jose defenseman Mario Ferraro shot into traffic. The puck got behind Miller and Couture poked it into the net before Hakanpaa could sweep it away.
Stephane Matteau scored for the Sharks 8 seconds into a 5-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Jan. 11, 2000, and Tyler Kennedy scored 9 seconds into a 4-3 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars on Oct. 17, 2013.
Lundestrom deflected a slap shot from defenseman Hampus Lindholm to tie it 1-1 at 5:42 of the second period.
"[First NHL goals] are always fun to see, and obviously the guys are excited on the bench for him," Eakins said. "That's a special time for that young man. I thought he was solid tonight. I thought him, Comtois and [Rickard] Rakell had lots of looks at the net and gave us some good O-zone time."
The Sharks, who have not played a home game this season, visit the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday and Thursday before their home opener scheduled for Feb. 13 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
San Jose got at least one point in consecutive games for the first time.
"We still had a chance to take all four points out of here," Boughner said. "Taking the positives, we took three out of four, get a day off to rest and go to L.A."
NOTES:Sharks forward Patrick Marleau played his 1,733rd NHL game to tie Jaromir Jagr for third behind Gordie Howe (1,767) and Mark Messier (1,756). … Sharks forward Rudolfs Balcers, recalled from San Jose of the American Hockey League, had three hits and a blocked shot in 11:53 in his debut. ... Ferraro replaced Marc-Edouard Vlasic on the top defense pair with Brent Burns. ... Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf missed his second straight game with a lower-body injury. He is day to day. … Ducks forward Sam Steel played his 100th NHL game. .. Miller is 388-282-85 with one tie in 18 seasons with the Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues and Buffalo Sabres.