In youth hockey, there is a thing called the "24 hour rule". This is the recommended amount of time a player, coach, or parent should observe before voicing displeasure over such things as discipline, or the lack thereof, playing time, etc. In a conflict at the rink, its always best to cool off. Better to act on common sense without all of rink rage and the heavy emotion that is fresh in hearts after an incident. Makes great sense.
Last night, after Game 6, Ryan Miller was enflamed and P.O'd when he dropped his now legendary "mass muder" bomb on Flyers captain, Mike Richards. Understandably, Miller was peeved at Richards for his blatant push-from-behind of Tim Connolly into the end zone glass. Connolly would leave the game, and would not return. Connolly has been ruled out for Game 7 in Philly.
So, then, back to the "24 hour rule". Following today's practice, Miller voiced his displeasure at the discovery of that Richards had avoided a discipline hearing with Colin Campbell for his punk play on Connolly in Game 6.
Miller's just as passionate today, if not more, than he was on Sunday.
I was at Miller's presser and he still has a lot on his mind.
“The guy (Richards) who is complaining the most about us getting away with murder has delivered two of the dirtiest hits in the series,” Miller said.
“A blatant elbow to the face, which is something the league said they would try to take away, and driving Tim Connolly headfirst into the boards. It wasn’t just a hit, it was a push. It was blatant.
“I don’t know where to go with this one. At the same time, it’s a tough game, it’s rough. Richards wants to win. It’s not lost on me that he is a hard competitor. I think that was reckless. ... It’s more annoying than anything to hear that come out of a good player’s mouth.”
Meanwhile in Philly today, Richards told csnphilly.com:
“Obviously I’m excited to play,” Richards said. “There’s no doubt about that, there’s no question. I’m not worried about that, I’m worried about helping the team out and getting one by the goaltender tomorrow.”
You think the Sabres are ready to give up? You got another thing comin'!
Derek Roy has played in Game 7s in his career in Buffalo. He's had his heart broken and he knows how it can hurt. Roy is cleared for contact, and he will play in Philly in Game 7. Tim Connolly's loss is Derek Roy's gain.
Roy was battle-tested this morning by assistant coach James Patrick. Roys was rubbed, scraped, and bumped along the wall inside HSBC Arena to test his surgically repaired quadriceps.
By all indications, Roy passed his tests with flying colours. He was also hacked and banged on by Mile Weber and Cody McCormick. Roy is none the worse for wear.
Said Weber: " I gave it to him pretty good and he battled with me. Thats a good sign".
Roy played between Stafford and Ennis in practice.
He spoke with the media after the optional skate had ended.
"It (Game7) is definityey a good experience to go out there when its all on the line. Your playing for your guys in the room and you are fighting for one another. Its a moment that will last and we will cherish", the veteran pivot said after practice in Buffalo.
Roy knew that his season would come to an abrupt stop when he was sent immediately to the surgeon back in late December after he had suffered a torn quad against the Florida Panthers. Getting back into the lineup has been his goal since he was hurt. He was having a career year, 35 points in 35 games, when he was abruptly disabled with his serious injury.
Playing tomorrow night will mean a lot to Roy.
"Its great. I've put in a lot of hard work. Its great of the training staff and everybody who helped me along the way. Its been a tough road-- four months-- I'm back and ready to go. I wouldn't play if I wasn't 100%. we were waiting for the right moment and like I said, all the hard work has paid off. Come in every morning, first in, last out, so its been a long road."
Roy's return will serve as an adrenaline boost for his teammates who have lost the services of Jason Pominville and Tim Connolly in successive games. Isn't it a coincidence that Philly's powerplay units have been putrid, and that the Flyers have knocked Buffalo's two top penalty killers out of the series in the past two games? What a coincidence.
You can expect Roy to play 5 on 5, PP, and Pk.
"We'll see how it goes. I think its going to be a lot different, a lot more difficult going out there and trying to use the stamina and what not. But, I've worked really hard at it and I've skated a lot to get my stamina and my endurance. we worked on the ice and off, so hopefully we can jump back in", Roy said.
Listening to Roy speak, I could only think of Chicago's David Bolland, who had been felled by a concussion last month against Tampa and he was forced to sit out the first three games of the Vancouver-Chicago series. Bolland was lost to his team for five weeks, and his team needed a miracle to qualify for the Playoffs. Roy's injury was long term while Bolland's was a shorter term. However, trailing 3-0 and facing elimination in round one against the top team in the NHL, Chicago coach Joel Quennville had no choice other than to activate Bolland from the IR only to have the former London Knight star erupt for four points in the Hawks' Game 4 win. Coach Q needed a hero, and dave Bolland has answered the bell in a big way. The Hawks have since won all three games that Bolland has played in and the series will be decided in Game 7 in Couver on Tuesday night. Tuesday night in Philly, Lindy Ruff will be looking for similar heroics from Derek Roy. Win and stay in. Lose and go home.
Might Roy provide the spark -- offensively, defensively, speacial teams, and emotionally---
that will ignite his team to a Game 7 victory in Philly on Tuesday night, after missing four months, in a season when his team's fortunes turned for the better once he lkeft the lineup with his injury?
"I'm just going to go out, have fun, and play my game to help the team. These guys worked hard to get to the Playoffs all season long and I'm not going to let them down with my work ethic. I'm going to go out there and work just as hard and be disciplined", Roy said with confidence.
Now, that my friends, will be a story book ending the likes of which Buffalo Sabres fans have never seen before!
Jochen Hecht skated all the drills and also participated in the same battle drills that Derek Roy had to endure in practice today. 55 came out of it A-OK.
Pat Kaleta and Mike Grier sat out with injuries. Will 25 and 36 play in Game 7? Time will tell. Lindy did not divulge it today.
Matt Ellis is still with the team.
__________________________________________________________________
Lindy ran an uptempo practice today. They worked on 2 on 1s and they shot the puck a lot. Ryan Miller looked sharp. No tension in the air. The group was loose, focused, and having fun.
Just before he jumped off the ice to meet with the media, Lindy Ruff took Chris Butler off to the side for a face to face, one on one chat. Butler was on the ice for Leino's OT GWG, and has shown fatigue in the past three games. You'll recall that he took a damning holding penalty on JVR when the Sabres were up 4-3 midway through the third period in Game 6.
Reggie Sekera practiced full-go, and I anticipate Ruff sitting Butler and activating Sekera for Game 7.
What a shocker. Mike Richards gets away with pummeling Tim Connolly's face into the end wall in Buffalo on Sunday. "Richie" crossed the line, injured a vulnerable opponent, and is allowed to play in Game 7.
Does this surprise anyone?
Selective enforcement sucks. Just ask Brent Seabrook who was wiped out by a blindside Raffi Torres head hit. No suspension.
Join the Discussion:
»