grahme got a shutout last night (only faced 20 shots) and eshce only allowed 1 goal on 33 shots last night. looks like the USA goalie fight is gonna be epic.
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I never meant it like that, just commenting on the persons 'buffalo has such a good defense' opinion. Although total shots doesn't tell the story, what about the quality of the shots?joshjull said:Lets not get carried away, they are 17th in the league giving up 29.7 shots per game, the isles are 26th giving up 32.8 per game. Miller 582 shots in 20 games or 29.1 per game and Ricky D. 997 shots in 35 games 28.5 per game. Miller has had some very busy nights the way the Sabres play an attacking style. They rely on him to bail them out. These stats prove two things 1. Ricky D. isn't as overworked as his defenders like to claim and 2. I have too much time on my hands.
I want team USA to have the best shot possible of winning a medal, and right now Miller looks like he's the best. All bias' aside.King Henry I said:
Buffalo has long had a better team commitment to defense, and their forwards are more diligent about back checking. In the past the Islanders had better names on the defense, but I would say that overall their defense was no better. Now we don't even have the names. Buffalo may have lost their most talented D, but with McKee healthy and bringing in Lydman and Numminen, they still managed to significantly strengthen their defense. The Isles on the other hand replace Hamrlik with Zhitnik (wash), but then replaced Aucoin with Sopel and Jonsson with Lukowich (gigantic downgrades). Combine that with the iffy team commitment to defense and too many lazy forwards not backchecking, and it's not the kind of environment a goalie can really be expected to win in.MLH said:
As far as the back up comparison goes, Biron's GAA and Sv% while not as good as Miller's, are still very solid. Of more importance though, is that his record is very similar. Buffalo is about the same level of a team with Biron as opposed to Miller (though, if you really want to get into it, Biron has more wins and fewer losses, so you could even argue they're better with Biron). Dipietro on the other hand is a game above .500 on a losing team. Snow is 3 games below, and Dubielwicz is 2 games below.
Regardless, while I am defending Dipietro and his play this season, I think Miller would be the better choice for America. He's playing superb and is riding a hot streak. His confidence is high. Dipietro on the other hand, is quite the opposite. As an Isles fan, I'd like to see Dipietro get the nod as I think it would be great for his confidence and hopefully help spark a good streak upon his return. But as a team USA fan, I think it should be Miller between the pipes.
Rabid Ranger
2 is better than one
hovercraft said:
It will be interesting to see who gets the nod. IMO, it will come down to Esche and DiPietro, and while I think the U.S. brass wants Ricky to be the guy, Esche is very capable.
ALF AmericanLionsFan
Registered User
So the only way Miller gets on the squad is if there is an injury to the top 3 correct? He will travel with the team to Turin,but have to stay outside the village?
joshjull
Registered User
I can only comment about his games against Buffalo and he gave up some softiesRallyKiller said:
Fan-of-#9
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Jim Boeheim
Registered User
It's gonna be difficult to watch this team play with Rick or any of the other two in net and know that MIller is the one that gives us any hope at all.
BD
Registered User
spoken mostly by Buff fans, there is no doubt that Miller is having an outstanding year. But Rick has a great tournement record and experience. That said, I'm no Isle homer. He's been horrific on a very horrific team and coaching this year. His confidence is as shot as the swiss cheese of his Dmen in front of him.
However, here is my point:
It is up to the coach, based on the schemes and styles, to decide whats and WHO is best. Part of that is tournie experience, and above all, play....especially in practices and drills, once it's time.
If Miller is the man, and Esche/Dipietro (both having poor years) falter, all good. May the best man win..above all, may they win is something we need bad. US needs to make a stir is a prime slot on NBC these upcoming Olympics. Hockey needs this, and US teams need this. So, whoever is in goal, better stand on his head and face the pressure like a jedi master.
However, here is my point:
It is up to the coach, based on the schemes and styles, to decide whats and WHO is best. Part of that is tournie experience, and above all, play....especially in practices and drills, once it's time.
If Miller is the man, and Esche/Dipietro (both having poor years) falter, all good. May the best man win..above all, may they win is something we need bad. US needs to make a stir is a prime slot on NBC these upcoming Olympics. Hockey needs this, and US teams need this. So, whoever is in goal, better stand on his head and face the pressure like a jedi master.
Rabid Ranger said:
I agree with your analysis... I also believe that Miller will wind up on the squad as an injury replacement for one of the currently named goalies. Esche could use some time off to let his groin fully heal, and I know Dipetrato has been hurt and missed time recently.
Best of luck to the squad with whatever decision they make.
KeyserSoze81 said:Even when Biron was going crazy and went on his streak, most fans in Buffalo still awaited Miller's return, and I think that says something.
Overall, I look forward to Waddell's choice coming back to haunt him.
It says the team if front of the Sabres goaltenders were so good it did not matter who was in goal, where in the Islanders case it's exactly the opposite.
Funny but in 2003-04 it was the Islanders that went 4-0 against the Sabres with DiPietro stopping forty shots in a huge win at Buffalo down the stretch who's play beat out the Sabres for a playoff spot. It was DiPietro who was solid in the World Cup in his start and it was DiPietro who stopped fifty shots in a losing effort in the World Championship.
DiPietro's paid his dues for years representing the US in these tournaments, he's earned an opportunity to start over Miller and if the team gives him any chance to win DiPietro will find a way.
joshjull
Registered User
I agree he has paid his dues and should be on the team but to be guaranteed to start? I don't recall him carrying USA hockey to a gold in the olympics or World Cup. He has played well at times in the past but we aren't talking about Broduer. Someone who is having a bad season but was the man for years. Dipietro is a young inconsistant goalie who can be great occassionally but hasn't been this year. I think Miller should be on the team, starter? I don't know. Based on his recent play probably.NYIsles1 said:
I also thought that the point of the Olympics was to win with your best players. Not to be a reward for playing in the past for the US. If Ricky boy had actually won World Cups and olympic gold then his previous service matters. Who starts should be who gives you the best chance to win. If you think he will get great Defensive play your dreaming. This team will be under siege in many games. Ricky's supporters continually point out he needs to be "protected" if he was just "protected" this year he would do well.. Well that won't happen in the olympics.
My rant is over.As I have said in the past if Ricky starts I will be cheering for him because I want the US to win.
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NYIsles1 said:
Too Bad this is now and that was then.Totally irrelevent information.Now,Ryan Miller is far superior to DiPietro.
joshjull
Registered User
DaMick said:
Thats not exactly true. Miller is on the Taxi squad. Esche and Dipietro have had injuries lately, you never know. The arguement isn't Totally irrelevent.
joshjull said:
If it was up to me id let Miller & DiPietro battle it out
put DiPietro behind a decent D and sees who's better
But the way that pecking order was selected...even on a taxi squad..its a long shot unless as you said Esche pulls a hammy or DiPietro hurts his knee with our invisible D
joshjull
Registered User
Always with the defense, I was at the game in Buffalo early in the year and I've seen the Isles on Center ice a few times. The Isles D is bad but Ricky gives up some softies. I know D matters but if you are the "golden boy" of USA hockey you should be doing better. He is very inconsistant this year. Read my earlier post. He will not get great D in the Olympics, he will be under seige in most games.DaMick said:
joshjull said:
Our D is possibly the worst in the league.
but correct DiPietro has given up a few softies as all goalies do
but when you rely on Lukovich/Zhitnik/Sopel/Martinek as your top 4
youre getting no help at all from your D
ive watched about 90% of thier games
that D is horrid plus the fact thier fws dont help the D at all.
Do you realize the few times diPietro has gotten hurt is from other players from other teams pretty much running him over?
joshjull
Registered User
DaMick said:
Its pretty close, although Michel Thierren would argue otherwise
Has Zhitnik been that bad? He had always played well for us.
joshjull said:Its pretty close, although Michel Thierren would argue otherwise
Has Zhitnik been that bad? He had always played well for us.
No he hasnt...but he isnt a #1 D...we have no real viable #1 or #2 D..hell arguably Zhitnik is a #3D or 4th.
DanielBriere48 said:
So a goaltender who had only three NHL starts in 03-04 who took a huge step back from 02-03 (Miller) vs someone who took the starters job in 2003-04 had several outstanding starts, a solid playoff and effort in the World Cup and an outstanding game with fifty saves in the World Championships (DiPietro) is far superior based on two months? (4-0 in December and is only 4-3 in Jaunary)
Comical.
Miller was 6-4 in October and let in a shot from center ice on opening night. Until he was injured Sabres showed no signs of becoming a good team or a dominant goaltender. Biron was 15-6 and that's who was in goal when the Sabres turned their season around, by your discussion he should be the starter over Brodeur/Luongo for Canada. Last time Miller played the Islanders they scored three goals in the first peirod and Miller could not stop anything, their offense won the game by bombing Snow and their defense gave Miller very little work afterward, that's why he's winning games.
And still he's only 4-3 in January.
DiPietro has had a solid season with what his defense is allowing in front of him and the soft goals for the most part have been infrequent. More often than not the team in front of him is giving him no chance and he has not had one easy night all season.
Don Waddell said it and I completely agree with him. DiPietro is a money goaltender and it's not about stats but winning a big game. He is America's best chance in goal if were talking about stealing games and winning gold and that's why he should be in team USA's net over Miller.
joshjull
Registered User
NYIsles1 said:
What money game would that be? He has never won at the olympic,World Cup or NHL level that I'm aware of. I don't want to get on you too much, but your belittling of Miller is very childish. He is a very talented young goalie on the rise this year. Miller should be on the roster. I don't know if he should start but he should definitely be on the roster (Graehme,Miller, Dipietro). He is tops in the league in Save % and GAA(.922 and 2.26 respectively)you don't get these stats giving up alot of soft goals.. His record is 15-7-0. I was at that opening night game when he let that terrible goal in from center ice. I seem to remember Ricky letting in 5 that night, 2 softies. Ricky boy's problem to me is mental thus the inconsistancy. He has been touted as the US's golden boy in net and due to his draft status much is expected of him. I think he has a lot of talent and will succeed if put in the right situation. I don't know that the olympics are going to help him. His olympic team will be under seige in many games will he be up to the challenge? I doubt it but hope I am wrong.
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