Off Topic » quarely in contention. Mickelson won

SUNRISE, Fla. - His shutout streak over, Ryan Miller is happy to keep winning.Radim Vrbata and Bo Horvat scored, Miller stopped 23 shots and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Florida Panthers 2-1 on Monday night.Brandon Pirri spoiled Millers bid for a third straight shutout with 2:32 remaining, ending the goalies career-best scoreless streak at 200:45. Miller, who had blanked Philadelphia and Carolina in his last two starts, topped his previous best scoreless streak of 161:35, set in 2010 with Buffalo.Vancouver won its third straight and improved to 3-1 on a five-game road trip.(Keeping the winning streak going) is probably more important, Miller said. (The shutout streak) was fun while it lasted but the important thing is that we got two points here and we move on to Tampa.The Panthers outshot the Canucks 10-1 in the third period and finally got on the scoreboard when Pirri got the puck off the faceoff and fired a shot from above the right circle through traffic and past Miller.I just couldnt catch up to (the shot). I didnt see (Pirris) release too well and if I dont see the release Im probably dead in the water, Miller said.Miller was solid throughout the game, even after allowing a goal.Its disappointing, Vancouver coach Willie Desjardins said. He made a couple of unbelievable saves; one on the power play. For sure, we wish (the scoreless streak) would have kept going and he deserved it to keep going but that happens sometimes.The Panthers have lost a season-worst four straight, and are lurching into the All-Star break with just one point in the last four games.Real disappointing first period, we didnt play well. Mentally we werent sharp. They came out and took it to us that first period, coach Gerard Gallant said. It could have been a real good finish to have a good homestand.The Canucks scored both goals in the first period and outshot the sluggish Panthers 13-6. Vrbata put Vancouver ahead at 3:25 as Daniel Sedin made a nice pass across to Vrbata on the right side and his shot got past Luongos glove.Ive got to try to be a little better at the start, come up with some big saves, Luongo said. The last few games he (Miller) hasnt given up much so that was a tough one to get back into.Horvat doubled the lead at 8:03 as his shot was deflected into the crease and bounced before drifting across the goal line.I just tried to put the puck on net and fortunately it trickled in, Horvat said. Its been a really good road trip.NOTES: The line of Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin, and Vrbata have combined for 108 points for Vancouver this season. ... The game was Luongos third against Vancouver since he was sent to Florida in a four-player deal last March. ... The Panthers have scored once in their last 23 power-play chances. ... Panthers centres Pirri and Vincent Trocheck returned to the lineup after being healthy scratches for the past three and four games, respectively. Discount Nike Dunk . Berkman almost left the game last off-season before signing with the Texas Rangers. He then had another injury-plagued season and was limited to 73 games. Nike Dunk Wholesale China . The Nuggets leading scorer, Lawson is characterized as day to day by the team. Hes averaging 17.9 points and 8.9 assists. Lawson suffered the injury late in Denvers win Sunday at Sacramento. http://www.nikedunkdiscount.com/ . - The New Orleans Saints have re-signed receiver Joseph Morgan for one year and have agreed to a four-year deal with free agent fullback Erik Lorig. Cheap Nike Dunk . The Maple Leafs handed their embattled head coach a two-year contract extension on Thursday, while at the same time announcing that assistants Dave Farrish, Greg Cronin and Scott Gordon will not be back. Nike Dunk Shoes Clearance . Thats the feeling that eight Canadian Football League teams are experiencing right now in advance of the expansion draft to stock the Ottawa Redblacks. HUMBLE, Texas -- Phil Mickelson did more than prove to just himself that hes ready for next weeks Masters on Thursday. The five-time major winner showed to everyone that hes fully recovered from last weeks muscle pull and likely to be a factor in this weeks Houston Open as well. Without so much as a practice round this week at the 7,441-yard Golf Club of Houston, Mickelson opened with a 4-under par 68 and was among the leaders following Thursdays opening round. The bogey-free performance was a far cry from last week when Mickelson was forced to withdraw during the third round in San Antonio after pulling a muscle in his right side "Im surprised because I was worried about the Masters," Mickelson said. "I was certainly worried about Houston, but it healed a lot quicker. I felt great today; didnt feel any pain or discomfort and didnt even think about it." Mickelson is three shots back of first-round co-leaders Bill Haas and Charley Hoffman, both who finished at 7 under. Hass had five birdies on his back nine, while Hoffman needed just 27 putts to earn a share of the lead. Keegan Bradley and Matt Kuchar lead a group of five golfers at 6 under. J.B. Holmes, Erik Compton and Jim Renner are also at 6 under, with 10 golfers are at 5 under. Of the 144 players in the field, 113 finished at even par or under on an overcast and occasionally misty day. "The greens are absolutely perfect," Haas said. "... I think the scores are reflective on that. They were a little slower, but part of that, too, is the weather. It was like a little dewy mist out there all day, which played a part in the speed of the greens." Mickelson and Bradley were part of a threesome with Webb Simpson, who also finished 4 under. All three players in the group navigated the course without a bogey in their morning rounds. Former world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, playing in the afternoon and one of the five top-10 players in the world in the tournament, finished withh a 2-under 70.dddddddddddd While Haas and Hoffman shared the lead after Thursdays play, it was Mickelson -- who was forced to withdraw during last weeks third round in San Antonio after pulling a muscle in his right side -- who was the centre of attention leading into next week at Augusta National. Mickelson has won the Masters three times, the latest coming in 2010, but his status was in doubt following last weeks injury. The left-hander, however, underwent treatment in the days following his departure from San Antonio -- along with fitting in two days of light practice at Augusta National -- and appeared in top ball-striking form on Thursday. "One of the things I really worked on hard today was staying focused on each shot," Mickelson said. "... I needed to play here this week and really challenge myself in that regard to give myself the best chance for next week." Opening on the back nine at the former Redstone Golf Club, which was renamed the Gold Club of Houston following an ownership change, Mickelson was bogey free despite needing 31 putts. He made the turn at 2 under following a 16-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th, and he birdied both of the par 5s on his back nine to put himself squarely in contention. Mickelson won the Houston Open in 2011, and the courses Masters-like setup -- including slick greens and tight rough -- is a key reason hes returned every year since. "He was striking it, he was hitting it long and great," Bradley said of Mickelson. "... He seems like it was feeling a lot better today than it was in San Antonio." Kuchar, who finished tied for fourth at last weeks Texas Open, had three straight birdies in the middle of his round on Thursday -- highlighted by a 47-foot birdie putt on the 445-yard par-4 second hole. McIlroy, one of five of the top 10 players in the world in the field, was as low as 3 under before a pair of bogeys on the back nine. World No. 10 Dustin Johnson withdrew following an opening 8-over par 80. ' ' '