Quick makes 23 saves, Rangers blank Canucks in Miller's return to Vancouver

VANCOUVER -- Jonathan Quick made 23 saves and the New York Rangers defeated the Vancouver Canucks 2-0 in J.T. Miller’s first game back at Rogers Arena on Tuesday.

It was Quick’s first shutout of this season and the 64th in the NHL, tying former Rangers great Henrik Lundqvist for 17th on the League’s all-time list, two behind Patrick Roy.

“Any time your name is in a category with Hank, it's special,” Quick said, “But at the end of the day, it's a much needed two points, and hopefully we can build off this game.”

Mika Zibanejad and Sam Carrick scored for the Rangers (4-5-2), who ended an 0-2-1 skid that included a 5-1 loss at the Calgary Flames on Sunday.

“Just a way better start, more urgent, assertiveness in our game,” Miller said. “Controlled play for two periods and then play with the lead in the third -- that's how you want to play on the road.”

Miller had two shots on goal in 19:24 of ice time, killing penalties, playing on the power play and winning 11 of 15 face-offs in his return to Vancouver after being traded to the Rangers on Jan. 31. He played six seasons with the Canucks in which he played 404 games and led the team in points (437), game-winning goals (27), overtime goals (10) and short-handed goals (eight).

“I had a lot of nerves. I was trying to move my feet and stay focused, and I really liked the way our line played in the first two periods,” Miller said. “I thought that we had a cycle game, had an honest game, and it's an emotional game, for sure, but it actually went better than I thought. I actually thought I was going to be a little worse but made it through.”

The 32-year-old forward and Rangers captain was recognized with a video tribute and received a standing ovation midway through the first period.

“It's just surreal,” he said. “You don't realize how lucky you are, and just really happy that my kids got to be here today and my wife. It means a ton to me, and I just feel super lucky to have that support in a hockey crazy city. It was a really special chapter of our lives here.”

Thatcher Demko made 23 saves for the Canucks (5-6-0), who have lost three of their past four games. Vancouver was playing its second straight game without top defenseman and captain Quinn Hughes, who is day to day with a lower-body injury.

“It was tight,” Demko said. “They were probably a hair quicker than us the first half. And then I thought we gave a pretty good effort there in the third to make a push and get back in the game. We had a ton of loose pucks kind of laying around the crease there and just couldn't find one to put in the back of the net. But, yeah, it's disappointing.”

Vancouver outshot New York 12-7 in the third period but couldn’t solve the 39-year-old Quick, who spent his first 16 seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, winning the Stanley Cup two times with them and inspiring a young Demko.

“He was my idol. I grew up in San Diego, and he was kind of coming up through the ranks in L.A. and he was definitely a guy that I always idolized,” Demko said. "I've been around him a little bit over the years, just kind of working out in the summer and things like that, especially early in my career, and he got the better of me tonight.”

Zibanejad put the Rangers ahead 1-0 at 17:28 of the first period, taking a breakout pass from Adam Fox, passing to Will Cuylle at the offensive blue line, then beating backchecking forward Evander Kane to the net to chip the backdoor return pass over an outstretched Demko.

“Quick up by ‘Foxy,’ kind of worked ourselves into a 2-on-1 and ‘Cools’ made a great pass, so just try to get it on net and good to see the puck go in,” Zibanejad said.

Quick’s best saves came on Canucks center Lukas Reichel, who was playing his third game in four nights since being acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday. He gloved a quick Reichel shot from alone at the bottom of the left face-off circle 42 seconds into the first period and got his left pad on a partial Reichel break off the left wing 3:33 into the second.

“I’ve just got to put it in the back of the net,” Reichel said. “I’ve got a lot of chances, but my dad always told me that as long as you have chances, you don’t have to be worried. But it would be nice if I get one and help the team win. Today was a good opportunity to do that, but I’m going to keep pushing, keep trying, and hopefully it goes in next game.”

Quick also stopped Conor Garland alone in tight at 10:20 of the first period, and shot out his left pad to cut off Jake DeBrusk streaking across the crease 6:25 into the third.

“We're lucky we got two unbelievable goalies we have total faith in every single game,” Miller said. “He's been doing this forever, and he played unreal again today.”

Carrick scored into an empty net from inside the Rangers blue line at 18:25 for the 2-0 final.

NOTES: Garland left the game in the second period and was still being evaluated after the game, according to Canucks coach Adam Foote. He took a big hit from Carrick in the final minute of the first period, and Foote said it might be related to the hit. … Quick is the first Rangers goalie to record multiple shutouts at age 39 or older. … Zibanejad’s goal was his 36th game-winner with the Rangers to pass Steve Vickers (35) and tie Adam Graves for eighth on the team’s all-time list. … Canucks defenseman Tom Willander had two shots and finished even in 12:37 of ice time in his NHL debut after being called up from Abbotsford of the American Hockey League on Tuesday.