A Battle Of The Goaltenders

In the first round of the playoffs, the Buffalo Sabres will be taking on the Boston Bruins. The Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask and the Sabres goalie Ryan Miller have been the hottest in the league this year battling all year for the top spot in GAA and SV%.

Tuukka Rask ended up leading the league with a GAA of 1.97 and a league leading 0.931 SV%. Ryan Miller was not far behind him in second place with a GAA of 2.22 and second with a 0.929 SV%. Both of these goalies had a standout season while each posted 5 shutouts.

The biggest concern is experience. For Ryan Miller, he has all the experience he needs starting 69 games this year for the Sabres, 2010 Winter Olympics, 34 NHL Playoff games, and playing in the NHL for 5 consecutive years. Rask on the other hand is a NHL rookie this year. He only got to play 45 games (24 less than Miller) and has no NHL Playoff experience.

Overall this should be a good match up for both teams and will be a great series. The first game of the series will be played on Thursday April 15th in Buffalo.

Miller Wins Olympic MVP

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Amid the celebrations that erupted as Canada won ice hockey gold on Sunday most people probably did not notice who won the media's vote as the tournament's most valuable player -- American Ryan Miller.

The U.S. goalie was on the wrong end of the overtime 3-2 final loss to Canada, his only defeat of the Games, and finished with a silver medal around his neck.

"We should be proud of what we accomplished, but everyone is a little disappointed," Miller told reporters as he headed to the locker-room at Canada Hockey Place, the pain of the loss etched on his face.

The 29-year-old Miller, who plays for the NHL's Buffalo Sabres, took the role of top goaltender in a U.S. Olympic team that went for youth in a bid to put them on the podium after a disappointing showing in Turin four years ago.

"We have a group that skates very well so you can take chances, and we're backed up by arguably the best goalie in the world," U.S. coach Ron Wilson said.

Miller was beaten in overtime by Canadian sniper Sidney Crosby with a shot the Pittsburgh Penguins forward admitted he did not know had gone in until the crowd erupted.

"I'd been aggressive all tournament, and (thought) maybe I'd try to surprise Sidney. But he got himself set up quicker than I thought. He got himself squared around to shoot quicker than I thought," Miller said.

Miller got some sympathy from Roberto Luongo, who was in goal for Canada.

"I've seen that release (by Crosby) before and it's hard to pick up," Luongo said.

Content Retrieved From: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6200FL20100301?type=sportsNews

Goalies for the 2010 Olympic U.S.A. Mens Hockey Team

The battle for the top spot for the U.S.A. men's Olympic hockey team was a tough choice with so many contenders playing at the top of their game. They picked 3 goalies and 1 alternate goalie just in case someone gets injured.

These goalies are 35 year old Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins, 29 year old Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres, and 24 year old Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings. Their alternate goalie is Craig Anderson of the Colorado Avalanche.

Tim Thomas: 12 wins, 2.31 GAA, 0.921 SV%, 4 Shutouts

Ryan Miller: 23 wins, 2.02 GAA, 0.934 SV%, 5 Shutouts

Jonathan Quick: 23 wins, 2.56 GAA, 0.907 SV%, 0 Shutouts

Ryan Miller Leading The Stats

Buffalo Sabres netminder Ryan Miller has always been good, but this year he has been so much more than that. So far this has been his best season by far. He leads all NHL goalies in save percentage, goals against average, and shutouts.

He has played 21 games with 15 wins, 4 losses, and 2 overtime losses. His GAA is a stellar 1.84 and his SV% is 0.937. The next closest goalie in GAA is over 2 and the next closest SV% is 0.931. He also is tied in first among all goalies in shutouts with 3.

In his last game against the Toronto Maple Leafs he faced 38 shots and none got past him. This is great that he is playing so good in front of Brian Burke (president and GM of the Leafs) because he is assembling the Olympic Team USA hockey team.

"Their goalie over there has stolen two games against us," said Leafs forward Matt Stajan. "I don't know what it is. Maybe his Team U.S. coach and GM are on our side, he wants to prove something? I don't know what it is, but he's one of the best and you've got to give him credit."