Ryan Miller Makes Late Diving Glove Save In Canucks’ 3-1 Loss To Red Wings

The Canucks fell to the Red Wings 3-1 in Detroit on Thursday night, but Vancouver goalie Ryan Miller made a spectacular save at the end of the third period to deny the home team a fourth goal.

Ryan Miller Makes Late Diving Glove Save In Canucks’ 3-1 Loss To Red Wings

With just over 2 minutes remaining in the game, Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg fired a shot from the left wing near the middle of the ice, and Miller– who was heading to the bench in order to let an extra player come on– turned around and dove to snag Zetterberg’s shot out of the air with his left glove, sliding across the ice on his belly.

“I’m sick of seeing pucks go into the empty net, so I went back,” Miller said. “[Zetterberg] brought the puck across the red line before shooting and that gave me an extra step or two.”

Despite the Canucks’ loss, both Vancouver fans and Red Wings fans gave the goalie a standing ovation for the incredible stop.

It seems safe to say Miller’s night wasn’t completely terrible.

Jimmy Howard made 36 saves for Detroit, (8-6-1) who won their second consecutive game after a five-game losing streak.

“Jimmy looked solid again,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “He’s not spitting out rebounds and the puck is sticking to him well. He’s doing a really good job.”

Dylan Larkin and Brendan Smith scored first-period goals, and Steve Ott scored in the third.

Daniel Sedin scored for the Canucks (5-9-1), who have lost 10 of 11. Miller made 24 saves for Vancouver, who have scored 15 goals in those 11 games.

“We’re playing well and we’re doing what we are supposed to do,” Sedin said. “We just can’t get anything to go in the net. At some point, we have to start scoring goals and winning games. We can’t be satisfied with creating chances.”

Vancouver outshot Detroit 14-8 in the first period but fell behind 2-0. Larkin gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead 32 seconds in, shooting a rebound past Miller for his fifth goal of the season. Smith made it 2-0 at 18:13 when his slap shot from the point slipped under Miller’s right arm and across the line.

The Canucks then made it 2-1 at 3:14 of the third period. Ott then scored a 15:14, tipping in Jonathan Ericsson’s shot for his first goal of the season.

“It felt great to be able to chip in,” Ott said. “It’s one of those goals that really pushes the game along toward a win.”

The Canucks next host the Dallas Stars on Sunday, while the Red Wings will visit the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

TORONTO, ON – NOVEMBER 5: Ryan Miller #30 of the Vancouver Canucks warms up prior to playing against the Toronto Maple Leafs in an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on November 5, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Leafs defeated the Canucks 6-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)