Sabres' Miller deals with bumping from opponents
Goalies across NHL turning into targets
Published: October 18, 2009, 6:51 pm
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After getting the wind knocked out of him, Ryan Miller thought he was trading goal posts for ring posts. The New York Islanders may as well have been Jimmy Snuka of the Fiji Islands.
"Just a good old-fashioned WWF knee drop to the back," Miller said after his night of wrestling in the crease.
Buffalo Sabres fans howled for several goaltender interference calls Friday when the Isles visited HSBC Arena. They got one when Tim Jackman sat on Miller, which resulted in a pummeling by Paul Gaustad, who rushed to his goaltender's aid.
"He was trying to spark his team by doing that," Gaustad said. "It's something that shouldn't be allowed in this league, to be purposeful of trying to injure somebody to spark a momentum change for the team.
"Every team is going to make it hard. That's our goal, to make it hard on the goalies to see the puck. But there's that fine line between making it hard on the goaltenders and protecting them."
There's a growing sentiment the line is being crossed too often. There were four goalie interference calls in the league over the weekend and numerous collisions that weren't penalized.
The New York Post reported that Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist was popped three times Saturday by the Toronto Maple Leafs, who escaped without an infraction. Rangers opponents already have been sent to the box four times for running the netminder.
"Something has to be done [by the NHL] or we'll have to take care of it our way," Rangers coach John Tortorella told reporters after the game. "The way guys are coming in on Hank now is ridiculous."
Added Sabres coach Lindy Ruff: "I saw a game against the Rangers where they absolutely plowed Lundqvist over a couple times. I think some of that is strategy now. I think that's going to be the trend to disrupt teams that aren't giving up a lot, or a hot goaltender.
"I more than expect it. It's not anything new. I think when teams get frustrated with not scoring goals, then you get more and more powerful people going through the paint."
Bumping the goaltender has been an ire-raising play in Western New York since February. Scott Gomez, then with the Rangers, collided with Miller behind the net. The goalie hurt his ankle and missed five weeks.
"I think it's a little more sensitive around here," Miller said. "When I got hurt it came to the forefront. But I watch other games, and there's guys getting just as much or more traffic as I'm seeing.
"It's part of the game. I don't mind if guys are in front. Like [Detroit's Tomas] Holmstrom, I can respect what he does because he's not trying to fall into you and disrupt you in that way. He's trying to crowd you. Once in a while he kind of leans his butt back like he's taking a position and that bumps you a little bit.
"What I don't respect is guys who embellish a fall and do that kind of stuff. That's where the referees have to know the difference. We're NHL players. We can stay on our feet. It's pretty obvious when a guy is pushed with enough velocity and force to knock him over, and it's obvious when he's given a nudge that he should keep his balance."
Forwards falling while positioned near the crease is one thing. What also perturbs Miller is when skaters drive the net as if there's a green light on his mask.
"They can stop on a dime when they have a chance to score, and when they know they're getting cut off all of a sudden they can't stop or turn," Miller said. "It's up to the referees on that side, but I think a bit of it is they want more goals and they're just going to let things happen.
"The ref's trying to watch the puck, watch the play and watch for penalties. I think the least of their concern is if it's goalie interference or not."
The Sabres' next game is Wednesday against the Florida Panthers, who haven't had any goalie interference calls. Even if they had, the Buffalo netminders wouldn't be fretting about it.
"You don't really think about that when you're out there," Sabres backup Patrick Lalime said. "You're looking at the puck, guys in the front, and you're just battling for space. I can't think about that. I've got a job to do, and that's focusing on the puck."
The collision tactic may be annoying, but Miller says he doesn't let it get to him, either.
"I'm not going to snap and lose it," he said. "It can be a fine line, but I don't think anybody's trying to hurt me. They're just trying to gain an advantage in the game. I don't take it too personally. I don't get too mad about it.
"I don't have Scott Gomez's picture up at my house, staring at it while I eat dinner, working up enough psychotic energy to go slash him in the throat. That's not the case."
That's good because even professional wrestling wouldn't allow that.
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