J.T. Miller shrugged when asked about why he slid to block a shot near the end of the Vancouver CanucksB次元官网网址� 3-1 win over the San Jose Sharks last Monday.

B次元官网网址淚t shouldnB次元官网网址檛 matter. ItB次元官网网址檚 like a mindset thing for the team,B次元官网网址� he said after the victory.

B次元官网网址淵ou have to want to get in the way of the puck. I had missed one on the penalty kill earlier B次元官网网址� if I had blocked that one it probably doesnB次元官网网址檛 end up in the back of the net. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a very fine line there about being in the shot lanes.B次元官网网址�

With San Jose on the man advantage in the third period, Miller dropped to a knee in an attempt to block a Calen Addison shot. The puck found its way by him, deflected off a Vancouver player and fell to Tomas Hertl to knock home.

Miller pointed out other examples of teammates blocking shots late in the game and said it shows the buy-in from players on what the coaching staff has asked of them.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 a part of our teamB次元官网网址檚 identity,B次元官网网址� he said.

Entering play Friday, Miller has 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) in 20 games. HeB次元官网网址檚 just behind teammate Quinn Hughes, who leads the NHL with 31 points this season.

Miller, 30, and the second line he leads have earned praise from the teamB次元官网网址檚 coaching staff for their playing style and impact.

B次元官网网址�(Miller) drives the play. When weB次元官网网址檙e playing a little bit slow or weB次元官网网址檙e not on our game, he demands the puck by going to areas,B次元官网网址� said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet. B次元官网网址淎 lot of our players understand, you have to drive to whatever area to demand the puck.

B次元官网网址淗e drives the play with his attitude and his north style. ItB次元官网网址檚 infectious.B次元官网网址�

Tocchet has cited that willingness for players to put their body on the line as part of the B次元官网网址淏ibleB次元官网网址� his team follows, which includes clean line changes.

He has also worked to hold his centre accountable, benching Miller for four minutes after taking his third penalty in a 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Oct. 31.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 an emotional leader for this team and weB次元官网网址檙e a quiet team,B次元官网网址� Tocchet said at the time. B次元官网网址淲e give him crap sometimes because heB次元官网网址檚 got to draw the emotion for a lot of guys. Sometimes, heB次元官网网址檒l go over an edge and he got back. I have no problems with his emotions.B次元官网网址�

MillerB次元官网网址檚 primary linemates this season have also been contributing. Brock Boeser has six power-play goals and 13 goals overall while Phil Di Guiseppe has eight points and a plus-5 rating.

Miller signed a US$56-million, seven-year contract last season after a 99-point campaign (32-67) in 2021-22.

Part of the bump in offensive output this season has developed with a change in how the Canucks operate in front of their opponentB次元官网网址檚 net. MillerB次元官网网址檚 goal last Monday came from a rebound off a shot by Boeser through traffic in the third period.

B次元官网网址淭he (defence) is doing a good job of finding that stick, theyB次元官网网址檙e not just shooting the puck for the sake of it,B次元官网网址� Tocchet said. B次元官网网址淣ow theyB次元官网网址檙e looking for that play. Those are great plays.B次元官网网址�

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