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What would playoffs be without some real drama… like a butt-end to the face and a retaliatory slash to a goalie’s chest? That was the scene at the end of game 2 between the Stars and Red Wings. Mike Ribiero took goalie Chris Osgood’s stick in the face on the way into a scrum and decided that a two-hand chop was the best way to let him know he didn’t appreciate it. It always gets a little serious when we start dealing with stick swinging… it is dangerous and it usually escalates the situation.
What Osgood did was pretty obvious. Every goalie has done it in some fashion… Osgood just happened to catch the guy in the face with the knob of his stick. There are many times during a game when an opposing player is trying to cut close to the net to collide with a player on the other team. In the incident in Detroit their were 2 opposing players looking to hit a player with really no time on the clock. Osgood was just thinking of his teammate.
In most cases this comes up when a defenseman is racing back for a puck that has been dumped in the zone with an opposing player hot on his heels. If the moment is right I try and interfere in subtle ways to make sure the opposing player really has to go out of his way to hit my teammate. By raising a stick or glove to obstruct the line the checking player is taking I may help my teammate get enough time to make a play or avoid being hit. Usually the goalie will not make contact with the player, it is usually a scare tactic. It's a little thing and may not really help that much in the grand scheme, but saving a big hit earns you a lot of respect from your teammates.
So we have a couple series at 2-0 for the home teams… I think that it will be a different story when the teams that are trailing get back home. To make it to the conference finals you have had to play some great hockey and push through adversity at some point. I think that we could be looking at 2-2 series after the next 5 days or so. The Flyers played pretty well in Pittsburgh and with a crowd behind them I bet they will punish the Pittsburgh forwards a little more.
In the other series I think Dallas played a little better but have to find a way to generate more puck time. Getting out-shot the way they have won’t cut it. They need far more time in the Wing’s zone… just not sure they can do it with the responsible Red Wings game plan. The reason I think that this series will be 2-2 is Marty Turco. He has been tested and answered… if his team gives him some more protection I think he can steal a few wins.
Tune in to Stretch on Maxim Radio on Sirius Satellite Radio each Wednesday morning at 11am ET for NHL All-Star goalie Ryan Miller's weekly Stanley Cup Playoffs report.
Have a question for Ryan? Post it in the Comments Section below. |
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Just
when I was talking to a friend about the lack of long overtime games in the
playoffs... The Sharks and Stars play four overtime periods. And when I say I
was talking to a friend about it I mean just hours before the games started and
just after Marion Hossa put the Penguins through to the Conference Finals to
meet the Flyers. I started saying “man I can’t believe there haven’t been any
real marathons this year.” I’m not saying I’m psychic... But...
We have our match ups for the conference finals
Detroit – Dallas
Pittsburgh – Philadelphia
I am going to go on a limb here... Not going to pick a Stanley Cup champion,
but I am going to pick the match up. I think the two teams I have seen play
live this year will advance. Detroit – Pittsburgh. I really want to type out
Philadelphia because they are playing great as a team but Pittsburgh handed it
to a tough Rangers team and a good goalie in Henrik Lundqvist. The only thing I
could see upsetting that series is if the Flyers just manhandle the Pittsburgh
forwards... Which a big strong Rangers corps couldn’t do. I am interested to
watch that unfold. As for Detroit advancing... They have depth and are getting
scoring in more than one place. They are an efficient hockey machine. No matter
how well I think the Stars have played the Wings have it all going right now.
So Happy Cinco de Mayo. Have a Chelada on a patio... A Modelo mixed with a tall
glass of ice and lots of lime juice. Refreshing on a hot day. I am off to have
a few...
Tune in to Stretch on Maxim Radio on
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morning at 11am ET for NHL All-Star goalie Ryan Miller's weekly Stanley
Cup Playoffs report.
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Post it in the Comments Section below.
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What's the strangest thing a fan has ever asked you to autograph?
– Hockeymistress
Cell phones and ipods seem to be popular now... I did sign a kids face with parents' permission. I have been asked to autograph breasts on many occasions... Usually oblige if it isn’t a creepy situation – like in front of a bunch of young kids.
Ryan, as a goalie myself I have to ask how big into gear are you. Most goalies I know are completely obsessed and I am one of the many. I know you have a fully custom pad that you wear in games, not a stock X-Pluse. I wanted to know if developing a pad like that is because you are very involved with gear that other tenders wear.
– Chris
I am obsessed... My pads are mutts. They are Frankenstein monsters made from Heaton 10 with Koho inspiration and other ideas. I know they aren’t the lightest or the biggest but I like the way they play for now. I would love to develop my own pad from scratch but that isn’t something that equipment companies have been willing to do... Yet. They have to focus on what they can mass produce to make real returns on investment.
Ryan, knowing that you're a big photography enthusiast (as am I, I own my own photography business) I was wondering what camera equipment and lenses you like to shoot with? And do you use Canon or Nikon? I thought I saw some photos where you were carrying a Canon5D but I could be mistaken. What are some of your favorite places to shoot when you're in Buffalo, and elsewhere? – Karen
I shoot with a Canon 5D because I like the full frame sensor for outdoor work... Wider the better for me. I love to be in northern Michigan by the lakes. I don’t really get a chance to make the kind of trips I want to make yet but I am going to Europe in June so that should be fun to shoot some cityscapes in Rome, Prague and London.
I've been a Sabres fan for almost 15 years now and I've seen your play since Rochester and I think I've noticed that throughout your career and most often this season that you are getting more vocal and intense during the games. Chirping at the officials(which I love, who likes Ref's anyway, your not afraid to guard the front of your crease as opposing teams players skate by with a "friendly" tap on the back of the leg,ETC. Have you noticed this change in your behavior, is it not a change and is me just noticing it for the first time? This went long,sorry about that, thanks again for doing this
– Justin M.
I really don’t like talking to the refs unless I have to stick up for myself or it is the right moment. I rarely start a “discussion” off by swearing or mistreating them so usually they will listen to my opinion or explanation... If they want to ignore me or they get defensive I have been known to lose my temper. If I lead off with respect I should get it back. It is usually in my best interest to keep my mouth shut unless they blow a call in an important situation... Even then it is really all for dramatic effect and I am just hoping they give us some slack next time.
Hey Ryan! Great blog. It's really nice to read your thoughts on the playoffs. Speaking of the playoffs, I would be interested to know what is your all-time favorite moment in the post-season (one that you were part of)? – RumorMeThis
Beating Ottawa in overtime to move on to the Eastern Conference Finals. Just the sudden joy of winning in overtime and being able to really celebrate on the ice with the boys.
Hi, Ryan! Thanks for doing this blog. I've always enjoyed and appreciated how open you are with us about your thought process and it's great to get a dose of that in this (too early) off-season. Is there any special reason that you wear number 30?
– Heather B.
I wore number #39 in junior and college... Dominik Hasek wore #39 during his historic stay in Buffalo. I didn’t want to live up to that as a rookie and I wanted to show him the respect he deserved by not choosing that number. I went with the number I wore each year prior to junior hockey, #30.
Hi Ryan I think you are awesome and this is a great way to communicate with people I idolize (NHLers). My question is who are your top 5 hardest shooters in the game today or even retired. Thanks – CJ
Well I have only played in the last 6 years so a few guys had moved on... Chara, Souray, Kovalchuk, Ovechkin and I will say Al Kotalik. He really can shoot. But a lot of guys can bring it now so that list is subject to change.
Tune in to Stretch on Maxim Radio on Sirius Satellite Radio each Wednesday morning at 11am ET for NHL All-Star goalie Ryan Miller's weekly Stanley Cup Playoffs report.
Have a question for Ryan? Post it in the Comments Section below. |
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Just got back from New York City. The NHL flew me out to help promote the Goalie
Equipment Committee around Game 3 of the Rangers/Penguins game. I came in during
the afternoon and was in just in time to catch a taping of Conan O’Brien. It was
my first time at a television taping in a studio so it was a fun experience.
Needless to say Conan is hilarious… the best part of the taping was the
interaction that won’t make it on TV.
Right after taping I made it to
the game and met up with my buddy Brian Sherry. We got to hang in the NHL box
between some on-air interviews about the goalie equipment panel and the
competition committee. We had a very nice view of a devastating game for the
Rangers. I thought they had the offensive opportunities to win but their penalty
kill just couldn’t hold off the Pen’s talented players. They have a tough job
ahead of them and without some key players. Avery is out and like him or not he
is a key player. Drury may be hurt and I think Betts took a puck in the face so
the Rangers have quite a bit of adversity to overcome.
So now on to the
reason I was in NYC… goalie equipment!!! (key scary orchestra music and lighting
– camera zooms in quickly on petrified faces of hockey fans – hold for dramatic
effect) It should sound so much more ominous than just ”Goalie equipment.” I
think it needs a tough or scary name since it is always the villain in the
story.
I am not going to sit on here and pretend like guys don’t push
the limits of the rules or that I myself will not try to get the last inch out
of my pads and gloves… it would be foolish to say that because you, my audience,
are not stupid. Yes, goalies push the limits because that is job security. No one
wants to be a martyr for the nostalgia of old time goaltending.
Hockey
has advanced in systems, style and equipment on all levels and all positions.
New offensive benefits are held in high regard. Better systems created by
coaches are respected… goalie equipment gets the raw end because the creativity
is about the prevention of the most meaningful part of offense -
Goals.
I want to work on this panel because goaltending has evolved and
I want to see it get the respect it deserves by admiring the creative use of
equipment and save skills that have come from that evolution. That said, lets
take a long look at ways to safely trim the equipment back in problem areas used
just for taking up space and not for protection… possible areas being some
oversized pants and chest/arm padding. I like the solution that Marty Brodeur
has been talking about… proportional sizing. Factor in height and other
dimensions for limits on sizing. Very clever. We will see come June. So stay
tuned…
Tune in
to Stretch on Maxim Radio on Sirius
Satellite Radio each Wednesday morning at 11am ET for NHL
All-Star goalie Ryan Miller's weekly Stanley Cup Playoffs
report.
Have a question for Ryan? Post it in the Comments Section
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My buddy John Michael Liles plays for the Colorado Avalanche. JM and I were in
the same class at Michigan State and have remained really close friends along
with Brad Fast (also a MSU hockey alum). Brad made John and I co-bestmen in his
wedding and we are even the co-godfathers of his son Riley. So when the Avs
rolled into town for last night's game we made the trek to Detroit for game one
with my buddies Aaron Hundt and Lucas Drake; Brad brought his wife, Lindsay and
little Riley along.
The game was about to start and I had to have a
Little Caesar’s pizza and a beer. Been a while since I was a spectator at Joe
Louis Arena so I decided to do it right. After I stood through the national
anthem with an entire pizza in my hand the game was underway. My godson Riley is
19 months old (give or take?)... So it was a lot of fun watching him watch
hockey. He was pointing and cheering “goal” no matter what team scored. I had to
take a lot of time away from watching to give him head-butts. I don’t know why,
but he thinks it is hilarious to bonk heads.
I am a pretty calm hockey
fan and I love to watch how the game adapts. I also bug the hell out of the
person next to me by talking systems. The Red Wings were all over the Avs in the
first period. They pressed hard and the Avs seemed to want to carry the puck
through the neutral zone a lot. Not something you want to do against the Wings.
They always seem to have three men back as a safety for there first two
attackers, so the middle of the ice is pretty clogged up. Avalanche turnovers
kept them from getting anything going.
The second period started pretty
much the same way but the Avs seemed to be getting back to basics. Although the
Wings had chased Jose Theodore, the Avs were very much in the game after John
Michael ripped a slap shot by Chris Osgood. That was a great moment for us being
able to see John score in the playoffs. I jumped out of my seat and got a few
dirty looks from the Red Wing faithful, but hey, a friend doesn’t score in the
playoffs every day. I thought John had a very strong showing and could have had a
few more points and even a close call late in the dying seconds of the
game.
The Avs started to grind a little more and play safer in the
neutral zone in the third period. That change really gave them some life but it
wasn’t enough. They dug too deep of a hole early in the game. I think that
period will give them some confidence moving on to game 2 and the series should
be fun to watch.
This is still way too early for me to be watching hockey
in the stands. I really hope I am busier come spring time for the next 10
years... But it was a good night supporting a friend and hanging with people
close to me.
Tune in
to Stretch on Maxim Radio on Sirius
Satellite Radio each Wednesday morning at 11am ET for NHL
All-Star goalie Ryan Miller's weekly Stanley Cup Playoffs
report.
Have a question for Ryan? Post it in the Comments Section
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 Hey Ryan, as a die hard Buffalo fan that has unfortunately relocated to Raleigh, NC, I'd like to know how the Sabres dressing room feels about playing the 'Canes. Are you as pumped as the fans are to be there?
–Lucas
Raleigh is a great rink to play in, because it seems like there is an unusually large number of Sabres fans. Wherever we go it seems that there are a handful of Buffalo faithful, but Raleigh gets a lot. It is always fun to see everyone tailgating before the games.
Hey Ryan, don't know if you saw, but Don Cherry said that Mike Keenan should've started Curtis Joseph again to take pressure off of Kipper. He didn't and, as you know, the Flames have lost the last two games. What do you think is the best thing for a coach to do in that situation?
–Jason
I think that situation has worked out for the Flames since you have asked this question, no matter how Game 7 goes. You don’t put your No. 1 on the bench in that situation any longer than needed. He didn’t have a bad game, he was a victim of his team’s slow start and they were very fortunate to recover. Keenan’s move was a team wake up call, not a reflection of his faith in Kiprusoff. I was happy to see a hero of mine (Curtis Joseph) come in and get a win, but it is the right move to go back to the guy who got you there.
Who on the team picks the songs that are played in the warmup for home games? Also I know you are big into music, what is your favorite band?
–Joe
Some of the guys recommend songs, and Andew Peters and I slipped some in toward the end of the year. We were getting a little sick of the songs. I had them use Queens of the Stone Age's "3’s and 7’s” and “The good left undone” by Rise Against When it comes to music I am pretty eclectic, but I usually come back to alternative or rock. I am really into the Raconteur’s new album. I love anything Jack White does.
What do you think about the issue of the size of the net vs. the size of goaltender equipment? I know this is a big issue for the Competition Committee to discuss, which I'd heard you are going to be a part of and, if you are, good luck!
–Anne
I have no problem with discussing the sizing of goalie equipment and a reduction. I definitely think some of it is still a little outrageous. Where I get concerned with the cutting of equipment size is protection. There has to be a method to cutting back and I am happy to give my opinion. I think that equipment sizing coupled with keeping a high standard of refereeing, to give players more room to skate, will increase the chances of a player scoring without making a drastic change to the sport. I don’t really feel like going to soccer camp this summer to learn how to play goal in front of a bigger net.
Ryan, I grew up watching you play Jr. A in the Soo, and was a goalie too, so you have always been an idol of mine. I also went to MSU; I missed you by a couple years, but I did get to see your brother play here. Just wondering, who is your favorite is to bring the cup home this year?
–Steve Brey
I had a lot of fun in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Learned a lot, too. If I were to pick a team, it would be based on friendship and one of my best friends, John Michael Liles is a big part of the Colorado Avalanche. I have a few other buddies that I would pull for, but John pulls rank on this.
What do you think about the league altering the schedule so that each team in the league will play each other at least once each season? Thanks!
–KJ
I think it is a good idea. Fans deserve to have the opportunity to see what the entire league has to offer. It also seems strange that two teams can play for the Stanley Cup and they may never have played against each other.
Tune in to Stretch on Maxim Radio on Sirius Satellite Radio each Wednesday morning at 11am ET for NHL All-Star goalie Ryan Miller's weekly Stanley Cup Playoffs report.
Have a question for Ryan? Post it in the Comments Section below.
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