Greg Wyshynski - The Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers have played six games, each winning three, in their Stanley Cup Playoff quarterfinals.
So why does Tuesday night's Game 7 feel like an entirely different series?
Another goalie change for the Flyers. Questions about Chris Pronger's(notes) role. Tim Connolly(notes) out for the Sabres, along with other lineup uncertainty. Mike Richards(notes) and Ryan Miller(notes) trying to see which one can make the most hyperbolic comparison to murder in condemning dangerous plays.
No matter what the vibe is, there are a few basic factors that will determine who advances and who goes home. And here they are:
Brian Boucher(notes)
Just like it has for the last 14 years, it begins with the goaltending for the Philadelphia Flyers. Because in those 14 years, according to Chuck Gormley, they've used 17 goalies.
Boucher is one of three they've used in this series, and Peter Laviolette broke his tradition by naming him the starter well before Game 7. No surprises, no mysteries; Boucher's their guy. Said Boucher to CSN Philly:
"Personally, I feel like I've had a solid series aside from three minutes. So I feel good about my game, and I give a lot of credit to my teammates. They've battled really hard in front of me, and they've really given me a chance to get back in there with the way they played [Sunday] night down 3-1."
That last time he played at home, Boucher gave up three goals on 11 shots in 15:36 of the first period. The good news is that the Flyers rallied in Game 5 to send the game into overtime, much like they did in Game 6 when Michael Leighton(notes) imploded in the first period — only that time, they won.
So they Flyers have shown resiliency when the goaltending has failed them, but that's playing with fire in a Game 7. They need Boucher to be the steady veteran tonight, not the liability he was in Game 5.
And if he falters ... would you believe that it's Sergei Bobrovsky time again? The circle would be complete.
The Sabres Defense
Ryan Miller pitched two shutouts in this series, facing an average of 33.5 shots in them. In his other four appearances, that average is 36.75, including 49 shots in Game 6's overtime affair.
To the surprise of no one, Miller would like to see them tighten up the defense a bit, via the Buffalo News:
"The times we've beaten the Flyers, we've done a really good job of sticking to one plan all night," said Miller, who faced 49 shots in Game Six. "We can do a little bit better job frustrating them. They're a team that relies on turnovers and getting up ice, and I think if we just keep two, three guys together getting back at all times with good back pressure, it's going to definitely be a frustrating style. It's something I don't think the Flyers have reacted too well to, even in the regular season.
"They were pretty patient early, but I think sometimes they expect to be on offense and they really cheat and push for it. You have to try and make them do that. ... We have to try and use their strengths as weaknesses, and we have to be the organized team and the team that's willing to play the chess match."
Which is tough, when the Flyers want to play checkers.
Which Gamers Will Decide Game 7?
Danny Briere(notes) has five goals in this series. So does Thomas Vanek(notes).
Nathan Gerbe(notes) and Tyler Ennis(notes) have two goals each. James van Riemsdyk(notes) has three, while Ville Leino(notes) has two, including the Game 6 winner.
As much as Game 7 is about which team executes its brand of hockey better, it's also about which players make a difference.
If he plays, does Derek Roy(notes) make a difference, or is he emotional window dressing like Pronger in Game 6? Does Mike Richards tally his first playoff goal of 2011, in the series's most important game?
One got the sense at the end of Game 6 that the Sabres would regret not having closed this thing out. The goaltending might be the great equalizer, but they're in a hell of a spot tonight in front of the orange-clad faithful.
Showing posts with label Ryan Miller. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ryan Miller. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Monday, February 22, 2010
U.S Hockey Team, Ryan Miller earned big 5-3 win over Canada
Bode Miller and the United States hockey team combined to make it a happy day at the Vancouver Olympics for the neighbors to the south, first winning the men's super-combined ski race and then dealing host Canada a surprising loss in the country's favorite sport.
Much of Canada stopped to watch the preliminary round hockey game against the Americans, but the hosts were left disappointed after a 5-3 loss and now their team needs to win an additional game just to make the quarterfinals. The United States, however, is poised to go into the next round as top-seeded team.
In an early game, Russia beat the Czech Republic 4-2. Defending Olympic champion Sweden faces rival Finland in the late game.
Earlier in the day, four-time Olympic medalist Miller finally earned a gold to complete his collection of jewelry from the Vancouver Games. After finishing seventh in the downhill run of the two-leg super-combi, Miller went all out in the slalom and bettered main rival Ivica Kostelic of Croatia with a winning time of 2 minutes, 44.92 seconds.
"I skied with 100 percent heart. I didn't hold anything back," Miller said. "It's just awesome. There's nothing else to say."
Miller had been the most hyped athlete of the 2006 Turin Games, but left Italy empty-handed. Now, with expectations much lower, the 32-year-old American won a gold medal to add to the silver and bronze he has already claimed in the first two races in Whistler.
Andre Lange of Germany became the first driver with four Olympic gold medals after winning the two-man bobsled event. He and longtime brakeman Kevin Kuske completed their four runs in 3:26.65.
Lange, the defending Olympic champion in two- and four-man, surpassed Meinhard Nehmer of Germany for the most bobsled golds. Lange also won the four-man event at the 2002 Salt Lake Games.
"This has been a long career for me, many years of fighting and hoping, racing and medals, which is now nearly over," Lange said. "For me it's a really happy end. I didn't really expect to win here."
In biathlon, World Cup leader Evgeny Ustyugov of Russia won the men's 15-kilometer mass start race. Ustyugov shot cleanly and finished in 35:35.7. Also, Magdalena Neuner of Germany won the women's 12.5K mass start for her second gold medal of the Vancouver Games.
"I knew I could win a medal, but now I have three," said Neuner, who also won the 10K pursuit on Tuesday and took silver in the 7.5K sprint in her first Olympics. "That's incredible."
Ireen Wust of the Netherlands turned her bronze from Turin to gold in Vancouver by winning the women's 1,500-meter speedskating race, and Michael Schmid of Switzerland won the inaugural Olympic men's skicross event.
Miller also won two silver medals at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, and his fifth Olympic medal overall added to his status as the most decorated American Alpine skier in history.
"The way I executed, the way I skied, is something I'll be proud of the rest of my life," Miller said.
Kostelic took silver behind Miller and Silvan Zurbriggen of Switzerland claimed bronze. Aksel Lund Svindal, who won gold in the super-G and silver in the downhill, led the super-combi after the opening leg, but he skied out of the slalom leg.
"I think slalom skiers for sure wouldn't have a great chance if the slalom course was simple," Kostelic said. "The setting was quite demanding, but not as demanding as it could be. But demanding enough so that the slalom skiers could make up time."
The mother of Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette died Sunday, two days before Rochette is to begin competition. She still plans to compete, and practiced only a few hours after hearing the news.
In curling, Canada's women's team beat the United States 9-2 to stay unbeaten, and Britain skip Eve Muirhead pounded a stone in frustration after giving up a four-spot to Switzerland in a 10-6 shortened nine end loss. It was Britain's third straight loss following a promising Olympic start.
Much of Canada stopped to watch the preliminary round hockey game against the Americans, but the hosts were left disappointed after a 5-3 loss and now their team needs to win an additional game just to make the quarterfinals. The United States, however, is poised to go into the next round as top-seeded team.
In an early game, Russia beat the Czech Republic 4-2. Defending Olympic champion Sweden faces rival Finland in the late game.
Earlier in the day, four-time Olympic medalist Miller finally earned a gold to complete his collection of jewelry from the Vancouver Games. After finishing seventh in the downhill run of the two-leg super-combi, Miller went all out in the slalom and bettered main rival Ivica Kostelic of Croatia with a winning time of 2 minutes, 44.92 seconds.
"I skied with 100 percent heart. I didn't hold anything back," Miller said. "It's just awesome. There's nothing else to say."
Miller had been the most hyped athlete of the 2006 Turin Games, but left Italy empty-handed. Now, with expectations much lower, the 32-year-old American won a gold medal to add to the silver and bronze he has already claimed in the first two races in Whistler.
Andre Lange of Germany became the first driver with four Olympic gold medals after winning the two-man bobsled event. He and longtime brakeman Kevin Kuske completed their four runs in 3:26.65.
Lange, the defending Olympic champion in two- and four-man, surpassed Meinhard Nehmer of Germany for the most bobsled golds. Lange also won the four-man event at the 2002 Salt Lake Games.
"This has been a long career for me, many years of fighting and hoping, racing and medals, which is now nearly over," Lange said. "For me it's a really happy end. I didn't really expect to win here."
In biathlon, World Cup leader Evgeny Ustyugov of Russia won the men's 15-kilometer mass start race. Ustyugov shot cleanly and finished in 35:35.7. Also, Magdalena Neuner of Germany won the women's 12.5K mass start for her second gold medal of the Vancouver Games.
"I knew I could win a medal, but now I have three," said Neuner, who also won the 10K pursuit on Tuesday and took silver in the 7.5K sprint in her first Olympics. "That's incredible."
Ireen Wust of the Netherlands turned her bronze from Turin to gold in Vancouver by winning the women's 1,500-meter speedskating race, and Michael Schmid of Switzerland won the inaugural Olympic men's skicross event.
Miller also won two silver medals at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, and his fifth Olympic medal overall added to his status as the most decorated American Alpine skier in history.
"The way I executed, the way I skied, is something I'll be proud of the rest of my life," Miller said.
Kostelic took silver behind Miller and Silvan Zurbriggen of Switzerland claimed bronze. Aksel Lund Svindal, who won gold in the super-G and silver in the downhill, led the super-combi after the opening leg, but he skied out of the slalom leg.
"I think slalom skiers for sure wouldn't have a great chance if the slalom course was simple," Kostelic said. "The setting was quite demanding, but not as demanding as it could be. But demanding enough so that the slalom skiers could make up time."
The mother of Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette died Sunday, two days before Rochette is to begin competition. She still plans to compete, and practiced only a few hours after hearing the news.
In curling, Canada's women's team beat the United States 9-2 to stay unbeaten, and Britain skip Eve Muirhead pounded a stone in frustration after giving up a four-spot to Switzerland in a 10-6 shortened nine end loss. It was Britain's third straight loss following a promising Olympic start.
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