Pro-Reads with Ryan Miller 4 on 4 Wrap
With Ryan Miller
Holding the middle of the net based on shooter’s options and backdoor threat
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Ryan Miller retired this summer but after a remarkable 18-season career that included the most NHL wins by an American goalie (387), the 2010 Vezina Trophy and a silver medal as MVP of the 2010 Olympics, we weren’t going to pass on a chance to pick his considerable puck-stopping brain and break down video from his last couple of seasons with the Anaheim Ducks.
As thoughtful off the ice as he was brilliant on it, Miller is poised rejoin the USA Olympic team as a coach for the 2022 Beijing Games, something he discusses at length on Episode 137 of the InGoal Radio Podcast before reviewing footage of a half dozen saves for Pro Reads.
If you missed his first Pro Reads, which featured a late-game 6-on-5 sequence against the Toronto Maple Leafs, make sure you go back and check it out. You’ll understand right away why were so eager to bump Miller up the rotation and get to this second entry sooner.
THE SCENARIO
This chance against the San Jose Sharks comes during 4-on-4 play and starts with defensemen (Marc-Édouard Vlasic) receiving the puck in the corner and carrying it below the goal line:
It’s probably not a surprise to see Miller on his feet still in the freeze frame above. After all, Vlasic isn’t really a threat to score from below the goal line, but things change for Miller in the image below as Vlasic continues on his path towards the back of the net:
With Vlasic arguably even less of a threat to score from there, why do you think Miller has defaulted into a reverse-VH at this point when he held his feet earlier?
THE SAVE
Now let’s take at the entire sequence to see how this one played out:
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- Ryan Miller breaks down his save on a 4-on-4 wraparound attempt by Marc-Édouard Vlasic of the San Jose Sharks, walking through his positioning decisions from start to finish.
- Miller explains why he defaulted into a reverse-VH as Vlasic moved behind the net — even while staying on his feet when Vlasic was less dangerous in the corner — making post-drop timing a key focus of the review.
- Miller identifies not overcommitting across as a critical principle when managing a wraparound attempt from this angle.
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