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Bronx cheer Sabres’ fans directed at Miller was ‘disrespectful’

Ottawa Senators v Buffalo Sabres

of the Buffalo Sabres of the Ottawa Senators on April 05, 2013 at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York.

Jen Fuller

The Buffalo Sabres were eliminated from playoff contention in a lopsided 8-4 loss to the New York Rangers Friday, and starting goalie Ryan Miller once again the focal point of frustration.

He was pulled from the game after allowing four goals on 14 shots by the 1:13-mark of the second period.

The Rangers eventually went on to score five times in under three minutes combined between the the late stages of the first period and early in the second, causing considerable angst among the local fans.

The mood in the arena, complete with jeering directed toward Miller, was captured by John Vogl of the Buffalo News.

Miller, who’s been in the organization since 2002, had a moment reminiscent of Patrick Roy’s final game in Montreal just 28 seconds into the period. He stopped another dump-in and fired it toward the boards with authority. As the crowd again gave a Bronx cheer, Miller waved to the patrons as played continued – much like Roy did during a humiliating game in 1995 that featured him asking for a trade immediately after getting pulled.

Miller’s teammates had their chance to respond after the game.

“It’s very disrespectful after what he’s done for Buffalo, what he’s done for this team, this organization and this city,” Sabres defenseman Adam Pardy told the Buffalo News. “It [ticks] you off when you hear that. He’s been great all year. We’ve had wins when we’ve had no business winning games. The reason was Ryan Miller.

“To hear that is just absolute disrespect for what he’s done for this organization.”

This isn’t the first time the increasingly less patient faithful in Buffalo have showed their displeasure with their struggling hockey club.

Earlier this month, Steve Ott ripped Sabres fans for booing the team.