Vancouver Canucks defenseman Chris Tanev (8) checks St. Louis Blues right wing Ryan Reaves (75) during the second period at Scottrade Center.Jasen Vinlove
Ryan Miller was victorious in his return to St. Louis, making 31 saves, and the Vancouver Canucks scored three times in the third period to beat the Blues 4-1 on Thursday night.
Nick Bonino, Linden Vey and Jannik Hansen all scored in the third period to help the Canucks (4-2-0, 8 points) snap a two-game losing streak and make a winner of Miller, who signed a three-year, $18 million contract with Vancouver after the Blues opted not to re-sign him in the off-season.
The Blues fell to 2-3-1 with their second consecutive loss.
The Canucks scored just 41 seconds into the first period off a Blues turnover in the neutral zone. Alexandre Burrows' wrist shot from the left circle was knocked down by goalie Jake Allen, but Chris Higgins was there to put home the rebound for his second goal of the season.
The Blues tied the score with a power-play goal from Kevin Shattenkirk, off assists by David Backes and Alexander Steen, with 12:22 left in the second period after the Canucks were called for too many men on the ice.
Nick Bonino put the Canucks ahead to stay with 15:06 remaining in the third period when he scored on a odd-man rush following a Miller save on the other end.
Vey scored on the power play with 8:03 remaining and Hansen added an unassisted, empty-net goal with 3:01 left.
Miller, who had allowed five goals on 13 shots in a loss to the Stars on Tuesday, stopped all 15 shots he faced in the third period on Thursday.
The Blues acquired Miller from the Sabres before the trade deadline, but after winning seven of his first eight starts he struggled down the stretch and posted an .897 save percentage in the six-game, first-round Stanley Cup playoff series loss to the Blackhawks.
NOTES: Thursday's game was the 200th in the career of Blues forward Ryan Reaves. . There was a delay with 12:02 remaining in the first period when a piece of glass behind the Canucks goal had to be replaced. . The Blues played their second straight game without injured centre Paul Stastny (upper body injury).