Ryan Miller isn’t lying: he’s “getting a little anxious” to suit up for the U.S. in men’s hockey at Sochi, as he told NBCOlympics.com.
Despite allowing Sidney Crosby’s iconic gold medal-winning goal, Miller often stood on his head in getting America a surprising silver medal in Vancouver. Even so, U.S. head coach Dan Bylsma refused to commit to a No.1 netminder heading into Sochi, and with good reason. He faces a tough choice between Miller and Jonathan Quick, who won a Stanley Cup and playoff MVP in 2011-2012.
Miller, 33, knows that his Olympic MVP performance from Vancouver doesn’t guarantee that he’ll get a chance to defend (and ideally improve) upon that second-place finish.
“It’s kind of like law firms: It doesn’t guarantee any future payouts or verdicts or anything like that,” Miller said. “It’s an experience that I will always cherish. But I can’t stack it in the net behind me. It’s not going to deflect pucks away.”
All three U.S. goalies can probably relate to the notion that past accomplishments can’t guarantee future saves. Miller has played well individually but suffered on the scoreboard with Buffalo while Quick and Jimmy Howard have often been outplayed by their backups in Los Angeles and Detroit this NHL season.
Bylsma’s tough goaltending choice makes for a little drama even before the first puck drops, but whatever the choice may be, it sounds like Miller is ready to go.
