Miller record 30th career shutout as Vancouver blanks Edmonton 2-0

EDMONTON - Ryan Miller made 28 saves to record his 30th career shutout as the Vancouver Canucks remained undefeated on the season, getting past the struggling Edmonton Oilers 2-0 on Friday.

Radim Vrbata and Daniel Sedin scored for the Canucks, who improved to 3-0-0 on the season.

The Oilers are still in search of their first victory of the year, dropping to 0-4-1 — their worst start in franchise history.

There was no scoring in a back-and-forth first period that saw Ben Scrivens face 12 shots in the Edmonton net and Canucks goalie Ryan Miller make 10 stops. The biggest save in the opening frame went to Scrivens, stopping Henrik Sedin in tight with a quick kick save with two minutes remaining.

Miller had his biggest test to that point of the game two-and-a-half minutes into the second period when he made a big blocker stop on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who came in on a short-handed breakaway. Miller then made another huge stop on a backhander in tight by Matt Hendricks a few minutes later.

Scrivens responded midway through the second with a big save on a deflection by Chris Higgins.

Moments later, Vancouver defenceman Dan Hamhuis was rushed off the ice pouring blood after being hit by an inadvertent high stick by Edmonton's Mark Arcobello. Hamhuis returned late in the second wearing a cage.

The Canucks finally broke the scoreless deadlock with four minutes left in the second period as Daniel Sedin made a nice pass through the goal-mouth to a wide-open Vrbata on the other side of the net for his third goal of the season.

Vancouver had a couple of glorious opportunities to extend its lead in the first half of the third, but Scrivens received some help with Taylor Hall and Andrew Ference both clearing pucks moments before a Canuck could put it in an open net.

The Canucks put the game away in the final minute on an empty-net goal by Daniel Sedin.

The Canucks return home to host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Edmonton next plays the Lightning in the second game of their seven-game homestand on Monday.

Notes — Vancouver and Edmonton met five times in the regular season last year, with the Canucks winning three… The Canucks haven't played since defeating the Oilers 6-5 in a shootout last Saturday… Vancouver goalie Ryan Miller came into the game with a perfect 8-0 all-time record against Edmonton… Oiler forward Ryan Nugent Hopkins returned to the lineup after missing the last two games following a hit by, and his subsequent first NHL fight against, Canucks defenceman Dan Hamhuis… The Oilers called defenceman Martin Marincin up from Oklahoma City for the game while also assigning defender Darnell Nurse to junior… Canucks rookie forward Bo Horvat practised on Thursday, but was still unable to make his NHL debut because of a shoulder injury.