Posted by Marilyn Sarvis, Buffalo Sabres Correspondent
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At first glance, a 6-2 loss looks like a horrible game- and it was. In the span of 62 seconds, the game went from close to a blowout.
Ryan Miller has played outstanding in net this year for the Sabres. At first glance, one would assume this game was on his shoulders. My intention is to stop any fans throughout the NHL running away with that thought- there has been a steady increase in the amount of press that Miller is deserving, and this game’s score shouldn’t be a deterrent in noticing that Miller is establishing himself as one of the NHL’s elite goalies.
Ryan Miller is among the top of the NHL’s goalies in wins with 12. Wins of course are a team effort, but anyone who knows the Sabres knows that Miller is the glue of the Sabres. With his play, he gives the Sabres a chance to win every night that he’s in between the pipes.
Though his GAA and SV% will take a hit from tonight’s game, his play so far has been good enough for some to have him as a lock for Team USA’s starting goaltender.
Tonight’s game will find a lot of attention where Miller as a goalie is concerned, especially in this time just before the Olympics in Vancouver.
The Sabres lost by a score of 6-2, and besides basis of opinion on whether or not Miller had an off night, there’s arguably only one goal that was his fault outright.
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The first Panthers goal was scored by Michael Frolik in the first period, and it was a perfectly executed one-timer in the slot, no chance for Miller to have read the play, as he was screened in front by a Panther.
The second tally from the Panthers came from Stephen Weiss, on Miller’s only mistake of the night- Frolik skated in with one defenseman on him and shot on goal, Miller grabbed the puck and threw it away- right to Weiss, who tapped it behind him. It was a bad goal to give up.
The Panthers third goal was from a 2-on-1 situation- the defenseman on the play did not cover the pass. Miller expected to face the player with the puck, and was unpleasantly surprised to hear a tape-to-tape pass, and Cory Stillman put the puck away to make the score 3-1.
The Sabres seemed to be playing well at the end of the third, and as the 17th minute dwindled down, Patrick Kaleta took a bad penalty- interference during an icing touch- showing no intent to play the puck, instead just taking the body of the Panthers player. Just 17 seconds into the penalty to Kaleta, the Panthers capitalized on a shot from the point that deflected off of two Sabres, first Gaustad‘s stick, then Butler’s stick, tipping the puck just above Miller’s pad- with just a minute and 2 seconds left in the game, the Sabres’ comeback lost a lot of momentum- but Lindy Ruff and the Sabres weren’t ready to pack it away at 4-2.
Miller was pulled for an extra attacker, and it didn’t take the Panthers long- 14 seconds after scoring the power play goal, they scored in the empty net, making the score 5-2, and the Sabres’ chance at victory drop to zero.
The Panthers didn’t stop there. To add insult to injury, they tallied a 6th goal with one minute to go, from former Buffalo Sabre Dominic Moore’s stick. Rostislav Olesz was allowed to take the puck with Butler and Hecht fighting him, skate it to Rivet, who tied up Gregory Campbell’s stick, and passed it cleanly to the unmolested Moore who skated in for an easy goal.
Miller was trying to focus on Olesz, who had the puck- and with four Sabres to his left covering two Panthers, Miller had no chance to stop Moore’s shot.
Still, Miller isn’t the type of player to point fingers. He knows that just as the Sabres win as a team, they lose as a team. On Friday, when the Sabres welcome their divisional rivals the Boston Bruins, it will remain to be seen if the Sabres can put together a complete team effort and give the home crowd a win before they head to Ottawa to start a three game road trip.
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Definitely not Miller’s fault last night. He did have the one mistake on the 2nd goal, the shot just seemed to handcuff him, he kind of whiffed on the catch and it looked like it went off the heel of the glove and bounced right to Weiss. Florida just outworked Buffalo and got the chances. Panthers now 6-2-1 in their last 10.
Knowing Miller, one game is not gonna put a crack in his shield. Still one of the best ‘tenders in the NHL this season.