Trust me. I'm not Ryan Miller's PR man. I give him the gears when he deserves it. I prop him up when he deserves it.
What a sickening spectacle. Ryan Miller's teammates quit on him. They lacked compete and passion. 24 minutes into this important game, the Sabres laid down for their Vezina goalie.
Miller was chased from his net after surrendering 5 goals on 14 shots, one of which was his own fault.
Warning: You'll need a barf bag while watching these low-lights:
Miller got zero help from his D and forwards. D-zone turnovers have been killing this team all season long. The Sabres died at the hands of the Islanders Saturday night largely because they puked up pucks in their own end. Clearing passes up the middle, rather than rip them off the wall and out. Forwards failing to come low to support the puck on the breakout. yada, yada, yada. Making junior hockey mistakes vs. the Islanders is one thing. making them against the Harlem Pucktrotters is another thing entirely. Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Bertuzzi, et al are contract killers. They make you pay for stupid mistakes. They put the gun barrel to your temple and pull the trigger.
Same crap tonight.
Miller was beaten cleanly, high cheese, on the Zetterberg goal, the first of the game. The next four were like a Keystones Cops routine straight out of a silent movie.
The goals by Franzen, Lidstrom, Bertuzzi, and Helm were a direct result of Sabres Fs and D, standing around watching the superior Red Wings make plays. The Sabres have shown the Red Wings way too much respect in their two meetings this season. Its almost as if the sabres are star-struck. Where's the profound hatred and desperation?
To add insult to injury, down 1-0, Ville Leino and Drew Stafford failed to score on two prime cut scoring chances on Jimmy Howard. In each chance, Leino and Stafford were left all alone in front of Howard, who was down and out of the play. Failure to lift the puck into the wide open upper half of the net doomed Sabres once again.
Miller's Mom, Dad, family and friends were in attendance at The Joe to watch the former MSU Spartan play. I feel for the guy. Sure, he's had a season to forget, but he deserves better support than this mess. Wasn't that long ago that Miller was carrying his team on his back for a few seasons in a row. What ever happened to reciprocity? Helping your teammate out while he's struggling?
Miller was furious as he left the ice surface. On his way to the tunnel, his brother Drew skated up to him to offer condolences. Ryan tore ass down the alley way to the room, where Miller destroyed his stick in fury.
Miller did not sit on the bench at all after being pulled. When the third period started, he also stayed in the Buffalo room.
The Red Wings were gracious to the Sabres in the final 36 minutes. Mike Babcock called off his attack dogs in an attempt to show mercy to Buffalo.
No push back from the Sabres. No fights. Only one or two scrums. No fisticuffs, not even after Clearly buried the People's Elbow in Goose's kisser. No reply at all.
Final score: 5-0 Red Wings
*****
Post game:
Miller told the Buffalo News:
"It's embarrassing. I got family and friends. Everybody came to watch Drew and I play. At least they got to watch Drew perform."
He added:
"We've got to find it from in here. We can't sit and wait for someone else to f'in do it."
"It's not good hockey. It's not good from top down. I need 2 be better. I can't seem to find a night. where I can get in a groove."
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