We’ll just have to wait until the playoffs to get that Sidney Crosby - Ryan Miller rematch everyone is dying to see. After playing out-of-this-world hockey for two weeks, the Buffalo Sabres are giving Miller an extra day off, as Patrick Lalime will get the start in net tonight.
“I’m playing [tonight] and looking forward to it,” Lalime said. “I think he deserves the rest.”
“I feel good,” Lalime said Monday after practice in HSBC Arena. “It’s nice to come back actually when you have a couple days off. You’re nice and excited to see the guys again, go on the ice and get some work done. I’m looking forward to getting the show started again.”
There’s apparently been some debate as to whether Crosby’s overtime goal was stoppable by Miller, and that we’d all love to see him face The Kid once more. That the ‘rematch’ would come so quickly after the gold medal game is fascinating, but you have to respect the Sabres’ decision to rest Miller. Just like with Team USA, Miller is Buffalo’s best hope for success.
And for the record, I never thought of that shot as stoppable. As a goaltender myself, I know how tough that sort of play is to make. Crosby grabbed the puck from behind him and swept in on net in one big, fast motion; there was no warning for Miller as to where it might go. 80% of goaltending is anticipation, and Miller was too close to Crosby to really have time to react to such a hard shot.
It was just a great, great play by Crosby and it beat a great goaltender.