The basic eye test says Ryan Miller is not having a very good season, and that doesn't just get based off Saturday's disaster in Pittsburgh. Miller has given up three goals or more in 10 of his 17 appearances. That just doesn't get the job done.
Miller put in plenty of extra work at practice Monday and was surprised to learn about owner Terry Pegula's comments following Saturday's game. In today's paper, Jerry Sullivan says it's time for Pegula to act on fixing this team and one way might be dealing Miller. Of course, no one is trading for a $6 million goalie who can't stop the puck, so Miller first has to get his game back on course.
Here's a deeper look at some Miller numerology:
---Career GAA and save percentage through Saturday: 2.59 and .914
---GAA/SV Pct in 2010-11: 2.59 and .916 (spooky)
---GAA/SV Pct in 2011-12: 3.12 and .902
---Home stats this year: 4-4-2, 3.58, .890
---Road stats this year: 4-2-0, 2.44, .922
---First 5 games this year: 4-1-0, 1.61, .950
---The 12 games since: 4-5-2, 3.85, .879
---Since returning from concussion: 3-0-2, 3.58, .891
Miller, remember, didn't get the loss Saturday night so remains with no regulation losses since coming back from his injury. Under the goofy NHL scoring rules, that went to Jhonas Enroth because he gave up the fourth goal in an 8-3 loss. Just out of principle, Miller should have gotten the loss for giving up the Penguins' 60-foot opening goal. And I think that should be the rule anyway -- do it like a pitcher in baseball because that was the goal that put his team down for good.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
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