Hockey is one of the most physical sports around. Players are constantly getting hit into the surrounding boards, getting in fights, getting teeth knock out and getting concussions, but there is one player who doesn't deal with this physical play, well at least not on purpose. The goalie.
I'm sure if your not even a huge hockey fan, you have some idea who Ryan Miller is. Miller was the goaltender who led the USA hockey team to a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Miller had one of the best seasons by a goalie in the 2010-2011 NHL Season for the Buffalo Sabres.
In the 2011-2012 season, he has struggled so far and it seems he has a target on him to opposing players. We flash back almost a month ago in a game where the Sabres were playing the Bruins. Miller stopped the puck way outside his crease and Bruins forward Milan Lucic intentionally slammed into Miller. Miller suffered a concussion and missed almost a month of play.
He returned from his concussion last night and there was a play similar to the Lucic play on Miller. Nashville Predators forward Jordin Tootoo was skating toward the Sabre net with the puck. He loses the puck several feet toward the net, but never slows up and heads to the net which was protected by Miller. As Tootoo arrives to the net he leaves his feet and crashes into Miller.
I don't know if this is a coincidence that Miller was involved in these plays or not, but to me it seems that Miller is a target for opposing players. The NHL really needs to do something about protecting their goalies more. Although, these are not hits you see during all hockey games, these need to stop because goalies are such an important aspect to a hockey team and their success.
I'm sure if your not even a huge hockey fan, you have some idea who Ryan Miller is. Miller was the goaltender who led the USA hockey team to a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Miller had one of the best seasons by a goalie in the 2010-2011 NHL Season for the Buffalo Sabres.
In the 2011-2012 season, he has struggled so far and it seems he has a target on him to opposing players. We flash back almost a month ago in a game where the Sabres were playing the Bruins. Miller stopped the puck way outside his crease and Bruins forward Milan Lucic intentionally slammed into Miller. Miller suffered a concussion and missed almost a month of play.
He returned from his concussion last night and there was a play similar to the Lucic play on Miller. Nashville Predators forward Jordin Tootoo was skating toward the Sabre net with the puck. He loses the puck several feet toward the net, but never slows up and heads to the net which was protected by Miller. As Tootoo arrives to the net he leaves his feet and crashes into Miller.
I don't know if this is a coincidence that Miller was involved in these plays or not, but to me it seems that Miller is a target for opposing players. The NHL really needs to do something about protecting their goalies more. Although, these are not hits you see during all hockey games, these need to stop because goalies are such an important aspect to a hockey team and their success.
I don't think either of those hits are 'dirty'. Lucic was racing after the puck, it's not like he just came and blatantly leveled him. The second play, the attacker seemed to not know where he was on the ice.
ReplyDeleteThese are the best hockey players in the world. They know where they are on the ice....
ReplyDeleteNews: Tootoo received a 2 game suspension
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