Canucks 2, Panthers 1
Ryan Miller made 23 saves and came within 2:32 of his third consecutive shutout as Vancouver improved to 3-1-0 on its five-game road trip.
Radim Vrbata scored his team-leading 18th goal and rookie Bo Horvat also tallied for the Canucks, who wrap up their trek on Tuesday in Tampa Bay. Miller extended his personal-best shutout streak to 200 minutes, 45 seconds before Brandon Pirri scored late in the third period.
Roberto Luongo finished with 21 saves against his former team as Florida dropped its season-high fourth in a row (0-3-1). The Panthers failed on all four power-play opportunities to fall to 1-for-23 in their last eight games.
Daniel Sedin skated out from the left faceoff circle before sliding a saucer pass across the slot to Vrbata, who beat Luongo from the right doorstep 3:25 into the contest to open the scoring. Horvat skated in a on 2-on-1 rush and tipped in the puck after it trickled past the veteran netminder at 8:03 of the first period to double the advantage.
After making 30 saves in a 4-0 triumph over Philadelphia on Thursday and stopping 28 shots in a 3-0 win over Carolina the following night, Miller saw his bid for his 35th career shutout come to an end as Pirri scored on a one-timer with Luongo pulled for an extra attacker. The 34-year-old Miller was attempting to become the first Vancouver goaltender to string together three straight blankings since Luongo accomplished the feat from Nov. 4-8, 2008.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Miller's previous career-best shutout streak was 161:35, which was set from Nov. 27-Dec. 7, 2010 while with Buffalo. ... Vancouver D Chris Tanev recorded a team-high three blocked shots while playing in his 200th career contest. ... Panthers C Nick Bjugstad had a team-leading five shots while winning 8-of-11 faceoffs.