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Goalie nods: Canucks get Miller back from injury

Vancouver Canucks v Montreal Canadiens

MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 02: Ryan Miller #30 of the Vancouver Canucks looks on from his crease during the NHL game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on November 2, 2016 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

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Ryan Miller’s last game was one of his finest of the season, but he wasn’t able to finish it.

Miller, who made 38 saves in Vancouver’s win over Tampa Bay last Thursday, suffered an injury late in the contest and was forced to exit. Jacob Markstrom came on in relief and started the next two games -- losses in Florida and Washington -- but tonight, Miller will finally get his chance to follow up on that Bolts win, as he’ll take on the ‘Canes in Carolina.

Vancouver’s goalie situation has been a curious one. Markstrom hasn’t capitalized on many of the opportunities afforded, and is just 6-6-2 on the year with a 2.71 GAA and .905 save percentage.

Miller, meanwhile, was up and down through the early stages of the season, but really seemed to hit a groove over the last few weeks. He won three of his last four starts before getting hurt, with a .931 save percentage -- in addition to the 38-save win over the Bolts, he also stopped 38 in wins over Toronto and Minnesota.

For the ‘Canes, Cam Ward starts in goal.

Elsewhere...

-- Peter Budaj, fresh off a 19-save win over Ottawa on Saturday, will start for the Kings. He’ll be up against Buffalo’s Robin Lehner, who is winless in three starts in December.

-- Washington will stick with Braden Holtby after he shut out the Canucks on Sunday. The host Isles are going with Jaroslav Halak, who was torched for six goals in a loss to Columbus over the weekend.

-- Battle of the backups at MSG: Scott Darling for the ‘Hawks, Antti Raanta for the Rangers. (More on Raanta here)

-- Mike Smith was hooked after allowing four goals in last night’s 7-0 loss in Pittsburgh, and will get a crack at the Red Wings tonight. Detroit is going with Jimmy Howard.

-- Good matchup in Toronto, as Martin Jones and the Sharks take on Frederik Andersen and the Leafs. These two saw a lot of each other over the last few seasons, when Andersen was playing in Anaheim.

-- Jake Allen goes for the Blues in Nashville. No word on a Preds starter yet.

-- Roberto Luongo, who made 37 saves in a win over Vancouver on Saturday, is back in for Florida. He’ll take on the white-hot Devan Dubnyk, who has won four games in a row.

-- John Gibson versus Antti Niemi as the Ducks visit Dallas.

-- Cam Talbot gets the nod for Edmonton, as the Oilers host the Blue Jackets. Columbus has yet to name a starter but it’ll be zero surprise if Sergei Bobrovsky is the guy.