Updates:
Per the NHL, Ryan Miller wins the silver medal in the “NHL 3 Stars Of The Week Contest”.
Chicago Blackhawks left wing Patrick Sharp, Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller and Pittsburgh Penguins left wing James Neal have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending Dec. 29.
FIRST STAR – PATRICK SHARP, LW, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Sharp led the NHL with six goals and tied for second with seven points as the Blackhawks (27-7-7, 61 points) earned five out of a possible six points to maintain first place in the Central Division. He began the week by scoring two goals in a 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils Dec. 23. Celebrating his 32nd birthday, Sharp (3-1—4) recorded his third career hat trick, including the game-winning goal, in a 7-2 triumph over the Colorado Avalanche Dec. 27 to become the first player in Blackhawks history – and second NHLer in the last 22 seasons (Pavol Demitra: Nov. 29, 2002) – to post three goals on his birthday. He capped the week by scoring his 22nd goal of the season, tied for fourth in the League, in a 6-5 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues Dec. 28. Sharp ranks second on the Blackhawks and tied for eighth in the NHL with 22-19—41 in 41 games this season, including 11-6—17 in his past 10 outings.
SECOND STAR – RYAN MILLER, G, BUFFALO SABRES
Miller posted a 2-0-1 record with a 1.55 goals-against average and .961 save percentage to help the Sabres (11-24-4, 26 points) gain five out of a possible six points. He opened the week with 36 saves in a 2-1 overtime victory against the Phoenix Coyotes Dec. 23. He then recorded 39 saves, plus another two in the shootout, in a 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs Dec. 27. Miller finished the week with a career-high 49 saves and stopped all six shootout attempts in a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals Dec. 29, improving to 3-0-0 all-time in games in which he has faced 50 or more shots (also Jan. 8, 2010: 48 saves on 50 shots; Nov. 5, 2013: 47 saves on 51 shots). The 33-year-old East Lansing, Mich., native has played in 28 games this season, posting a 10-17-1 record with a 2.69 goals-against average and .927 save percentage.
THIRD STAR – JAMES NEAL, LW, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Neal (4-4—8) led the League with eight points as the Penguins (29-11-1, 59 points) won two of three games to remain in first place in the Eastern Conference. He was held off the scoresheet in a 5-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators Dec. 23, but broke out with 1-2—3, including the overtime winner, in a 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes Dec. 27. Neal (3-2—5) then recorded his fourth career hat trick and first five-point game in a 5-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets Dec. 29. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he also became the first Penguins player to register at least five points in a game in which he factored all of his team's goals since Jan. 19, 2010, when Sidney Crosby posted 2-4—6 in a 6-4 triumph over the New York Islanders. The 26-year-old Whitby, Ont., native has played in 21 games this season, totaling 14 16—30, including 13-14—27 in his past 15 outings.
Photo courtesy Dan Hickling
Call me a homer. I don't care. Ryan Miller's career-high 49 save virtuoso performance against Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals was the best goaltending performance by an NHL goalie so far this season. Seriously, Miller was stupendous! I sound like a broken record. Miller has been outstanding all season long. He will become UFA on July 4 and he's making a strong argument why he deserves $8+ million per season for 5-6 seasons.
Miller is now 3-0-0 in games in which he has faced 50 or more shots (11/5/13 at San Jose and 1/8/10 vs. Toronto).
Miller had a logical solution for all over the shots that he faced on Sunday. His rebound control was uncanny. He absorbed every shot that he faced, except one. Miller stood tall in his crease and moved well side to side. He anticipated shots well and arrived at shot lanes and sealed them off just as they were being taken. That's a sure sign that he studied the Caps scouting report and was focused for the battle with Ovechkin, the NHL's leading goal scorer and the #1 PP unit in the NHL.
Miller made 44 saves on 45 saves through 60 minutes. He made five stops in the OT. Then, he made three monster saves in the shootout to seal the deal for Buffalo.
Miller's save % from Sunday night's game was .980%.
He entered the game with a .937 save % in his starts since Ted Nolan took over the Buffalo bench in early November.
When Nolan arrived on the scene in Buffalo, Miller was seeing more rubber than the Daytona 500. Since then, the team's defense has tightened up considerably to the point that Miller isn't facing 40-50 shots per night. Nolan installed, and his forwards and D have bought into and have accepted a trapping 1-2-2 system and it has done wonders to reduce the number of shots and chances that have been thrown Miller's way. Gone are the fore wagon hockey days when opponents are getting odd man rushes against Miller because the forwards and D are not doing the chores and helping out in the neutral zone and in Miller's end of the rink.
Sunday's game was a reminder of the "olden days". A 50 shot game in the Ted Nolan Era is a true anomaly.
I've been saying for weeks that Miller's trade value continues to rise seemingly with each and every huge save that he makes/
Miller was on the ice during the supper hour when news broke in the Detroit Free Press that he will in fact be named one of the three goaltenders for Team USA's Sochi Olympic squad.
Comes as know surprise to me. Miller has been my odds on candidate to be named starting goalie in Sochi. Jonathon Quick is also on my list.
According to
The Freep:
A person with knowledge of the selection process told the Free Press on Sunday that it looked good for Howard’s inclusion among the three goaltenders who would be tasked with leading Team USA to a gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the team before the announcement.
Howard was at August’s Olympic Orientation camp, where he was considered a shoo-in after a very successful 2013. His shine lessened in November, when he delivered very average goaltending. Then he suffered a sprained left knee during a practice three weeks ago, casting his selection further into the dark.
Howard is expected to be available Monday when the Wings play the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. He will start or back up Petr Mrazek.
Howard is 6-8-7 this season with a .910 save percentage and 2.65 goals-against average. However, the U.S. selection committee — headlined by Nashville general manager David Poile — has said all along selections will be based on a player’s overall body of work, not half a season.
Howard would be the third stringer, behind Jonathan Quick of Los Angeles and Ryan Miller of Buffalo, the former Spartan.
USA Hockey will unveil the final 25-player selections for the hockey team immediately following Wednesday’s Winter Classic between the Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium.
Miller was all smiles after the 2-1 shootout win over the Capitals on Sunday night.
Thanks, sabres.com
Steve Ott scored the shootout game winner but was quick to shift the spotlight off himself to the true hero of the night: Miller.
"The team didn't steal the game, Ryan Miller stole that game for us," Ott said. "That's the difference is how world-class he was tonight."
Thanks, sabres.com
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Great to see the "Flue Line" of Foligno-Leino-Omark sicking...errrr... sticking together.
Watch as Tom Wilson runs over Leino with a big hit on the wall. Big Marcus wasted little time tracking down the rambunctious rookie and pounding him to the ice.
Flu or not, line mates have to stick up for one another. Great to see Marcus answer the bell.
Thanks, CSN Washington
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