inGoal in Vancouver: Ryan Miler and Martin Brodeur Interviews

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.

These post-game interview questions represent answers to the entire media scrum which inGoal was a part of. The questions are paraphrased to give the feel of a full interview.

For more on Ryan Miller see the inGoal Interview prior to the semi-finals

Miller and Brodeur Reflect on the Americans’ 5-3- Victory

Ryan Miller

Where did this game rank in your career highlights?

“It’s probably one of the biggest games I’ve ever played. I’ve been in Game 7 down in Carolina to get to the Cup and missed out on that one. Winning this one felt really good, we got the goal support though, Five goals against Canada, I thought that was just a great effort by our guys. We did a great job responding. When things happened we responded, we didn’t get nervous or anxious, we kept playing. They scored that second goal and we probably had the better chances in the second period, so really happy to see that.”

Was the game as one-sided as the 45 shots against you suggest?

“We were just smart, we had good back pressure and to be honest I think we played them really tight. They didn’t have a lot off the rush. They didn’t have a lot of speed. They challenged wide a few times and got the puck to the net and got a few shots to the net and they were crashing the net. They’re definitely getting that pressure there but I don’t think they were making the rush plays, the ones you kind of picture on highlight reels and they’re going tic-tac-toe and going to an open side play with an open net. We did a good job of really forcing them to put pucks to the net and then everybody helped each other out and battled. Some of the most intense I played I was happy the boys got a few blocks and the puck came to me a few times where I was pretty fortunate, it was just kind of sitting there and our guys tied up. So I was really happy to see that. The pressure wasn’t on us and we felt good about getting some pucks in behind Marty.”

What impressed you the most tonight?

“I was happy to see we were in a battle and we responded. Hopefully it provides the confidence we need to keep moving forward but emotionally we need t make sure we are not going to get too high We want to keep battling and keep playing and there are going to be some tough teams ahead. We might even have these guys again.”

Miller also praised ex-Sabres teammate Chris Drury for a couple of blocks, including “a sliding one with 3-4 minutes left. It was a really nice play – he hunkered down and battled. They got stuck a little bit but we got through about 45 seconds to a minute in the zone. I know I was tired, I can’t imagine those guys.”

The final three minutes of the game were ”Some of the most intense I’ve played. I was glad the boys had some big blocks.”

Martin Brodeur

How do you feel about having to play an extra game now?

“We’re here to do one thing and that’s be the last ones standing and we’re still alive so there’s no problem with that.”

What has happened the last two games?

“We’re throwing 45 shots at these goalies and they are making stops facing forward, backward, sideways. Eventually if we keep doing these right things offensively we’ll be more successful.”

On the Drury goal Brodeur mentioned that he got bumped in crease on play that led to diving pokecheck and shortly after the goal - “It got a little chaotic there.”

How would you assess your play?

“I made the saves. It was a tough game. They got some bounces and scored some goals, one goes off my player. I made some key saves I thought in the game to turn it around and we just didn’t take advantage of it. After the two breakaway saves I made in the second I thought maybe something as going to happen and we went on to take three penalties in a row and they score that fourth goal that was important for them

Do you talk about the game with the other goalies on your team?

“We don’t talk about it much, we just try to be in our own little world and do out things and not think about it and just try to perform.”

Related posts:

1. inGoal in Vancouver: Who plays Tuesday? Breaking down Brodeur and Canada-USA showdown
2. Olympic Final Post-Game Interviews with Roberto Luongo and Ryan Miller
3. inGoal in Vancouver: Brodeur’s Puck-Handling Advantage Slow to Materialize
4. inGoal in Vancouver: Miller Looking Forward to First Taste of Border Battle
5. inGoal in Vancouver: Americans Trying to Pick Apart Brodeur’s Unique Style