Canucks aim to rebound in D.C.

(SportsNetwork.com) - Ryan Miller and the Vancouver Canucks had a lengthy shutout streak snapped the last time out and the club is looking to rebound on Tuesday when it visits the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center.

Miller entered Sunday's game in Detroit with a shutout streak of 152 minutes, 5 seconds, but the Red Wings' Niklas Kronwall ended it just 3:15 into their 5-3 victory.

Detroit never gave up the lead after the Kronwall goal, and scored four times on 29 shots against Miller. It was Miller's first loss since allowing four goals on Nov. 8 in Los Angeles.

Linden Vey had two goals and an assist for Vancouver, which had a three-game winning streak halted. Yannick Weber also scored in the loss.

The Red Wings were 2-for-4 on the power play, while the Canucks tallied once on three opportunities with the man advantage.

"They took advantage of it. That's what good teams do," Vancouver coach Willie Desjardins said of Detroit's specials team play.

Vancouver also had a six-game point streak halted in the loss, dropping its first regulation decision since a 5-0 loss to Arizona on Nov. 14.

Miller could be back in the crease tonight for the Canucks. The veteran owns a 16-12-0 record and a 2.49 goals against average in 29 career games against the Capitals.

Washington, meanwhile, will go with Braden Holtby in net tonight as it attempts to win for just the second time in five games.

The Capitals halted a two-game slide with Friday's 5-2 triumph over the Islanders, but were back in the loss column thanks to Saturday's 6-2 blowout defeat in Toronto. The Maple Leafs scored the game's first three goals and went 3-for-4 on the power play in the easy victory at Air Canada Centre.

Troy Brouwer and Tom Wilson supplied goals for the Capitals, who also lost for the fifth time in eight contests. Alex Ovechkin failed to register a point despite firing a game-high seven shots on net.

Justin Peters played the first and third periods, allowing three goals on 11 shots. Holtby took over in the second and gave up three scores on 12 shots.

"We knew they were a team that could score from in tight, a lot of sticks and a lot of deflections," said Holtby. "I think all of us have to take responsibility for not doing a good enough job in those areas."

Holtby will make his first career appearance against the Canucks tonight. He has an 8-6-3 record this season and is just 3-3-2 on home ice.

Vancouver recorded a 4-2 home win over the Capitals on Oct. 26, giving the Canucks their fifth win in the past six meetings between the clubs. Washington has lost 13 of the past 17 overall encounters in this series, but has won two of the last three meetings in D.C.