inGoal in Vancouver: Miller Looking Forward to First Taste of Border Battle

Kevin Woodley is a rec-league target and former contributing editor of the Goalie News. He has written about the Vancouver Canucks and NHL for The Associated Press, USA Today, Sports Illustrated and The Hockey News for the last decade, and is currently at the Olympics for AP.

With all the attention Saturday on Brodeur, it was easy to overlook Sunday’s game with Canada will be the first border-battle experience for American stopper Ryan Miller.

“I’m just excited to play,” Miller said. “I haven’t had a chance to play Canada and this is a good time. If I remain sharp, I’m going to keep getting that tap on the shoulder and as a starting goalie in the NHL, you want to get into a rhythm. With our great goalies [backup Tim Thomas, and third-stringer Jonathan Quick] you want to get established.”

As a Michigan native now playing in Buffalo, Miller is well aware of the rivalry between his nearby neighbors to the north, and remembers well America’s 2006 World Cup victory.

“I was proud that the Americans won and I really looked up to Mike Richter,” said Miller, who was sharp in wins of Switzerland and Norway despite not seeing a lot of rubber, and is expected to play ever game. “They did something great. It was a big stage and a big game.”

He’s also fully aware he’ll be fighting through screens from a big Canadian team – they have 15 players over 6-foot-2 compared to just eight Americans – determined to go to the net and disrupt his sightlines with a physical style of play. But he can’t ignore the skill either.

“They have tremendous skill obviously and can control the puck and that’s where our style has to be sharp,” said Miller. “We have to pressure the puck and be all over them. And for me, I have to have good awareness of what’s around me and what’s happening because they have guys who like to create and they have really good shots.”