At first, Drew Miller was certain that the last thing he’d ever see out of his right eye was the skate blade of Ottawa Senators forward Mark Stone.
Barely a minute had elapsed in the Detroit Red Wings’ 2-1 shootout loss to the Senators Tuesday at Joe Louis Arena when from a faceoff in the Detroit end, Stone was upended and as he lost balance, his leg swung upward and his skate clipped Miller in the face and across his right eye.
Miller hurried from the ice to the dressing room, blood streaming from his face.
“It happened really quick,… Miller recalled. “I think the centerman from the faceoff was reaching for the puck. I came through to kind of help out Glenny (Detroit center Luke Glendening) and the skate just came up.…
Even though he wears a visor, the skate rose up from below his chin and the blade was able to get behind Miller’s protective shield.
“Right away I knew something bad had happened,… Miller said. “I guess my first reaction was get off the ice and get as close to the doctors as I can, because I didn’t know what exactly had happened.
“I knew it was around my eye. I wasn’t sure if my eye was gone or what was going on. My first reaction was get to the doctors and the people who can help me.…
There was so much blood at first that it obstructed Miller’s vision, but once medical personnel were able to clean his wounds they were quickly able to determine that there was no damage done to Miller’s eye.
“It took a little bit of time because there was so much blood and I was holding a towel up against it,… Miller explained. “There was a lot of blood up in my eye area so I couldn’t see as well right away.
“Once they got it cleaned out I was able to look up with both eyes at the doctor. That was a big relief there and very fortunate and happy that nothing bad happened there.
“I definitely feel very blessed that the skate didn’t hit my eye. I was very lucky. Right now it’s just dealing with the cut, the stitches and the soreness from that.
“Other than that my eye’s good and I got on the ice today and felt pretty good.…
After practicing Monday, Miller, who has played in a team-high 157 consecutive games, hasn’t ruled out suiting up for Thursday’s big game with the Boston Bruins at Joe Louis Arena.
The Bruins sit just two points in back of the Wings in the Atlantic Division standings.
“I would like to play tomorrow,… Miller said. “I think we have to talk to some more doctors and see how my face reacts.
“I guess maybe it takes the next 24 hours to see if the swelling gets worse or how that is with skating. I don’t know how that will react. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow and see how things kind of hopefully get better.…
Babcock Goes Home Detroit coach Mike Babcock missed Wednesday’s practice in order to return to Saskatoon for his father’s funeral. Mike Babcock Sr. died Saturday at the age of 78.
“My dad and my mom have both passed now,… Babcock said. “I’ve had great things happen in my life. I lost my mom a long, long time ago. I’m a guy of faith anyway. I think the same things going to happen for dad. It was time for him to leave. He was struggling. To be honest with you, as sad as it is it’s a great, great thing.
“I like being busy anyway, but obviously you have some things to think about. In my family you’re expected to do your job. There are expectations every day and my dad would expect me to be doing this to the best of my ability and that’s how I honor him.
Babcock was home to see his father earlier this month.
“It was great,… he said. “The last time I visited him was March 3. I always make notes in my phone and it’s right there, ‘This will be the last time I see dad.’…
Babcock found an immediate void in his life as he was driving home from the rink following Tuesday’s morning skate.
“I talk to my dad every day,… Babcock explained. “I would talk to my dad every day when I was leaving the morning skate so I have to find someone else to call. I’m sure he saw every Red Wing game, turned on the TV all the time.
“One of his buddies across the street was a fireman, and he had people over all the time. You could come over, have supper, you just couldn’t talk through the game.…
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