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Lack gets second straight start over Miller, but not because there’s another Canucks goalie controversy

Eddie Lack

Vancouver Canucks’ goalie Eddie Lack, of Sweden, celebrates after defeating the Winnipeg Jets during an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)

AP

Eddie Lack is getting the start over Ryan Miller tonight in Nashville, and “quite a few things” went into making the decision, according to Canucks coach Willie Desjardins.

One thing is that Miller has been sick. On Saturday versus Calgary, he gave up the start to Lack, explaining Monday, “I thought Eddie gave the team a better chance energy-wise.”

Perhaps Miller still feels that way.

“I know that for him not to play in [tonight], he’s not feeling very good,” said Lack.

But another “thing” may be that Lack played very well against the Flames, stopping all but one of the 23 shots he faced in a 1-0 loss. In his last three starts, Lack has allowed just four goals on 74 shots, for a save percentage of .946.

“Sometimes you go off the last game,” Desjardins said, per The Province. “You go off different things. I don’t think it’s something we had written in.”

So Desjardins, in addition to being mindful of Miller’s health, may also be riding the hot hand against the Preds.

Now, it’s at this point where we must mention that Miller has not by any means been playing poorly. In his last seven starts, he’s compiled a save percentage of .943. Goaltending has not been the problem for the Canucks in recent weeks; it’s been scoring.

But Vancouver being Vancouver, a market where goaltending controversies are a way of life -- not to mention, there were many who went into the season believing the younger Lack was the superior netminder -- the decision to go with the backup for a second straight game has caused a stir.

And you can bet there will be even more of a stir if Lack plays well again.

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