VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Canucks acquired a new top-tier goaltender Tuesday, signing free agent Ryan Miller to a three-year deal worth US$18 million. The Canucks needed a proven netminder after trading Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo in the past 13 months and missing the playoffs this season. Miller was seen as the best goalie on the free-agent market. "I felt it was important to get a goalie with experience," said Canucks general manager Jim Benning. "Over the years hes played a lot of games. He gives us that experience that we need." Benning is familiar with the 33-year-old Miller, having worked in Buffalos scouting department when the Sabres drafted the player in 1999. "Hes intense and focused," said Benning. "Our younger players are going to see the way he works in practice, how hard be practises. Its going to make them better players." The St. Louis Blues acquired Miller from Buffalo in February, hoping he could lead them deep into the playoffs. But the club was eliminated by the Blackhawks in the first round after Miller allowed 19 goals and posted a lacklustre .897 save percentage. He posted a 25-30-4 record with a 2.64 goals-against average and .918 save percentage this season. He has 294 wins, a 2.59 GAA with a .915 save percentage in 559 career NHL games. Despite his experience, Miller said he always sees himself as a work in progress. "I think Im still developing into the best player I can be," he said. "I take that part of hockey seriously, finding new things to add my game and taking consideration and coaching from other people." Miller said he has a fondness for Vancouver, especially after playing for the U.S. during the 2010 Winter Games. Sidney Crosby scored on Miller in overtime to lead Canada to victory in the Olympic gold-medal game at Rogers Arena. "Ive had a chance to experience Vancouver over the years and have always been blown away by the amount of support the fans the fans bring out and how great the crowds have been, also how kind the people have treated me over the years, especially during the Olympics," he said. "Its a great city for hockey, a great city to live in," he added. Benning has been busy over the past few days after trading forward Ryan Kesler just prior to the NHL draft. Its all part of a major rebuild for the Canucks, who have a new president in Trevor Linden, a new GM in Benning and a new coach in Willie Desjardins. Dan Fouts Jersey .Y. - Alex Rodriguez paid $305,000 for evidence that could be used in the case involving the Biogenesis of America drug clinic, the Daily News reported Saturday. 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The Celtics squashed their long-time rivals, 105-87, on the strength of one of their young big men. Kelly Olynyk scored a career-high 30 points on 12-of-17 from the field and was a plus-29 off Bostons bench, which outscored the Sixers reserves, 61-31. The bench has great energy. The bench has great spirit. The bench is a great group of guys, said Celtics head coach Brad Stevens. Avery Bradley added 15 points while Brandon Bass and Jeff Green each finished with 14 for the Celtics, who scored 32 points off 23 turnovers. They kept the Sixers winless at home. The hosts actually scored 11 of the games first 13 points, but the Celtics quickly erased the deficit behind the sharp shooting of Olynyk, who netted 14 points in the opening quarter and made three 3-pointers in the final 2:08. Olynyks triple just before the buzzer gave Boston a 30-25 lead, which grew to as many as 19 in the second quarter. Philadelphias 15th turnover of the half led to a Rajon Rondo fastbreak layup in the closing seconds, and the Celtics were in front by a healthy 57-38 margin at the break. The closest the Sixers got in the second half was a dozen.dddddddddddd Boston hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, then hits the road for two straight. The Magic have dropped three of their last four and the only shining light was a last-second bucket by Tobias Harris to propel them to victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. On Monday, the Magic traveled to Toronto and left with a 95-82 loss. The Raptors stepped up on the defensive end to overcome a 52-44 halftime deficit, holding Orlando to a mere 30 points while forcing 12 turnovers over the final two quarters to earn their 10th straight win over the Magic. Orlando shot just 37.1 percent in the second half after hitting at a 59 percent clip prior to the break. Youre not going to win too many games scoring 30 points in a half, Magic head coach Jacque Vaughn said. Harris led Orlando with 18 points but had only four in the second half. Ben Gordon finished with 16 points in the loss, with Nikola Vucevic posting 13 points and nine rebounds. The Magic return home for their next four spanning the Christmas holiday. Orlando defeated the Celtics on Jan. 14 to snap a 10-game losing streak in the series, but lost against to Boston a few weeks later. Including the playoffs, the Celtics havent lost at home to the Magic since May 24, 2010, a span of eight games. ' ' '