The Vancouver Canucks entered a long layoff with their most dominant victory in years.
[b]Jusuf Nurkic Jersey[/b] . While that type of win can make for a pleasant five-day vacation, the Canucks will be tested right away Sunday night when they visit the NHL-leading Anaheim Ducks. Catch all the action starting at 5pm pt on TSN 1040 in Vancouver. Vancouver (20-11-2) bounced back from a season-high five-game losing streak to beat Calgary on Dec. 20 before routing Arizona 7-1 on Monday. Alexandre Burrows scored two goals and 14 total players tallied points as the Canucks posted their first plus-six margin of victory since Dec. 6, 2011. The win was the Canucks 20th in 33 games this season. They reached the 20-win milestone in their 35th game last year, but only managed 16 victories through the remaining 47 contests. Its fun to see the guys get rewarded, said Ryan Miller, who made 38 saves. If you told me, You are going to reach Christmas and the team is going to have 20 wins, I would have been really happy. Millers recent play has been especially encouraging considering his dreadful stretch from late November to mid-December. Following back-to-back shutouts on Nov. 25 and 28, Miller posted a 4.11 goals-against average over his next five games. Hes rebounded to stop 64 of 67 shots in his last two starts. Vancouver will need more of that from its No. 1 goaltender with its upcoming schedule featuring games against Anaheim, San Jose, Los Angeles and Detroit. This should certainly get your attention right away coming off break, Miller said of the schedule. We had a good little wake-up call there before the break. We finished strong. Lets see if we can continue here. Anaheim (23-8-6) entered the Christmas break with an impressive win of its own, edging the Sharks 3-2 on Monday. They returned from the layoff with a 2-1 shootout loss at Arizona on Saturday. Its tough when you dont play for that long, goalie Frederik Andersen said. I didnt feel very good in the first period, but as the game went on I felt better and better .. It was a good mental break, but even better, physically, to have a little time off. Andersen, who stopped 28 shots in the loss, is 9-1-1 with a 2.28 GAA this month. He would seen a likely candidate to start on back-to-back nights considering his 4-0-1 record and 1.36 GAA in five games against the Canucks. Captain Ryan Getzlaf extended his point streak to seven games with an assist. He has two goals and eight assists in his last nine contests against Vancouver. Ryan Kesler will face his former team for the third time after tallying an assist in the Ducks first meeting with the Canucks - a 2-1 shootout loss Nov. 9 in Anaheim. He was held scoreless in a 4-3 shootout win at Vancouver on Nov. 20. The Ducks are 7-0-1 in the past eight meetings, scoring 31 goals in those games. This could mark Millers first matchup with Anaheim in a Canucks uniform. He had won three straight starts against the Ducks before allowing six goals on 34 shots in a 6-2 loss with Buffalo on Nov. 8, 2013.
[b]Wayne Cooper Jersey[/b] . Detroits powerful offence made that unnecessary. Scherzer allowed two hits and struck out seven, and the Tigers backed their star right-hander with three early homers in an 8-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night.
[b]Sam Bowie Jersey[/b] . -- What Anthony Jennings lacked in experience, LSU more than compensated for with a talented supporting cast in the Outback Bowl. CHICAGO -- Jason Grilli is off to a rough start for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and manager Clint Hurdle thinks he knows the best way to get the key reliever back on track. Hurdle announced Friday that Mark Melancon would close games for the Pirates in place of Grilli, who has blown four save opportunities this year after converting 33 of 35 chances last season. "Theres no safety net for a closer. There never is," Hurdle said before the opener of a weekend series against the Chicago Cubs. "So he wont have to deal with that for a while, which I think will help." Grilli allowed a tying homer to Devin Mesoraco in the ninth inning of Thursdays 4-3 victory over Cincinnati. The veteran right-hander, who made the All-Star team last year for the firsst time, has yielded at least one run in three of his past four outings, and his four homers allowed this season matches his total from all of last year.
[b]Portland Trail Blazers Shirts[/b]. The 37-year-old Grilli is 0-2 with 11 saves and a 4.34 ERA in 20 games this year. He was sidelined for a month after straining his left oblique in late April. For now, Hurdle said he will use Grilli when the Pirates are trailing. "Hes all about doing whats best for the club and getting better," Hurdle said. "Well definitely need him as the season plays out." Melancon is 1-2 with 10 saves in 13 chances and a 1.89 ERA in 35 games this year. He has not allowed a run in eight games and 7 1-3 innings in June. Hurdle said he also could use Tony Watson in a save opportunity. ' ' '
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