Coyotes drop eighth straight as offense lags in loss to Canucks

Jan 4, 2017, 10:59 PM | Updated: 11:06 pm

Vancouver Canucks center Brandon Sutter (20) scores on Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) during a penalty shot during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

(Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Ryan Miller made 22 saves for his 37th career shutout as the Vancouver Canucks beat the Arizona Coyotes 3-0 Wednesday night.

Brandon Sutter, Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi scored for the Canucks, who have won five straight for their longest win streak of the season. The victory moved them above .500 for the first time since October.

Vancouver got its first shutout of the season and Miller his first in 70 games.

Mike Smith stopped 21 shots for the struggling Coyotes, who have lost eight straight and remain last in the Pacific Division.

A defensive gaffe from the Coyotes midway in the first led to Vancouver opening the scoring. Defenseman Kevin Connauton coughed up the puck right on to Baertschi’s stick in Arizona’s zone and the Canucks’ forward wristed it past Smith. It was Baertschi’s 11th goal of the season and seventh in the past 11 games.

A scoreless second period didn’t see many chances. At eight minutes in Canucks winger Loui Eriksson streaked down the wing with speed and space, but he couldn’t beat Smith. Eriksson had another chance late in the period while on a 2-on-1 with Sutter, but again Smith made the stop. The Coyotes, meanwhile, managed two shots on goal in the second.

Sutter made it 2-0 at 6:53 of the third on a successful penalty shot after getting hooked by Luke Schenn. Sutter made a nice deke before lifting a backhand over Smith’s goalie pads.

Horvat added a goal with 6:17 left when also went backhand on a breakaway against Smith.

Miller preserved the shutout with a couple of impressive saves during an Arizona power play in the final minutes.

NOTES: The Canucks claimed F Reid Boucher off waivers from New Jersey on Wednesday. It’s his second team this week. The Devils waived him Tuesday after claiming him Monday from Nashville. Boucher has one goal and two assists in 12 games this season between New Jersey and the Preds.

UP NEXT

Coyotes: At Anaheim on Friday night in the finale of a three-game trip.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Ben Hutton (27) fights for control of the puck with Arizona Coyotes left wing Jordan Martinook (48) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Christopher Tanev (8) fights for control of the puck with Arizona Coyotes left wing Brendan Perlini (29) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks center Michael Chaput (45) fights for control of the puck with Arizona Coyotes right wing Shane Doan (19) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Alexander Edler (23) fights for control of the puck with Arizona Coyotes left wing Brendan Perlini (29) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Ben Hutton (27) fights for control of the puck with Arizona Coyotes left wing Anthony Duclair (10) and Arizona Coyotes center Christian Dvorak (18) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

Arizona Coyotes left wing Brendan Perlini (29) tries to get past Vancouver Canucks defenseman Alexander Edler (23) and Vancouver Canucks left wing Sven Baertschi (47) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks center Brandon Sutter (20) fights for control of the puck with Arizona Coyotes right wing Josh Jooris (86) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks center Brendan Gaunce (50) goes into Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) as Arizona Coyotes defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks center Brendan Gaunce (50) collides with Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks center Michael Chaput (45) goes into the net behind Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

Arizona Coyotes defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) tries to clear Vancouver Canucks left wing Daniel Sedin (22) from in front of Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) during second period NHL hockey action in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) makes a save during second period NHL action against the Vancouver Canucks in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

Arizona Coyotes left wing Lawson Crouse (67) goes into the boards with Vancouver Canucks defenseman Christopher Tanev (8) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks center Brandon Sutter (20) scores on Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) during a penalty shot during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

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