Milan Lucic hit on Ryan Miller.

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Randy, I think most people know the rule (obviously some don't), it's just a double standard in the league that goalies get away with murder, yet you breathe on them anymore and it's a penalty. I agree that Lucic deserved the penalty, but he was/is being made out to be a mega villian here like he ran him over from behind and hurt him, but it really wasn't that bad. He could have hit him a lot harder if he really wanted to.

If I were a Sabre fan, obviously I would be more upset that no one had the stones to stand up for him, or even more, I'd be ticked at the defenseman who hit Seguin from behind into Miller which actually caused more damage to Miller then the Lucic hit did.
 
I can't believe how many people think it was a fair hit. Put on the pads for a couple of games and see what it's like to take a hit from a guy like Lucic. My first thoughts were, what a peice of crap nailing the goalie. He intentionally plowed over him and for that I think he should have gotten a roughing penalty. No respect whatsoever. He didn't even try to let up on Miller.
 
stajan55 said:
It looks like the reverse angle of the video shows Miller throwing the initial hit with Lucic basically bracing himself. It's unfortunate that Miller fell so hard but if he would have stayed in his crease this wouldn't have been an issue.

James
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I thought the same thing, but was not willing to defend myself from the 'assault' from people ready to jump on anyone not supportive of their opinions here.... :|:beer::|

So Ill simply type this:

+1





The best comparison I can give is the role of the catcher in baseball. You cannot go out of your way to slide into him or barrel him over, however, if he is not behind the plate and is in your way, you have every right to hit him with as much force as humanely possible. Goalies in the game today are pansies that hide behind the 'no touchy' rule. They flop and dive more than ANY player in the game trying to get the goalie interference call, and I have seen more brutal slashes to the backs of legs by goalies than normal slashes by skaters. (The self proclaimed King of New jersey is the worst offender of all)

Why they get special treatment is beyond me. Reminds me of playing NHL 95 for Sega Genesis, the goalie can play the puck and skate forward with it, and any time he touches a player from the other team that guy gets leveled because he isnt supposed to touch the goalie....


EDIT:

HD version is on youtube for those who want crystal clear vision of the play
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O8RiBmof4g
Again, pay extra attention to the slash attempt after the hit. After he strikes out, Mills lies back trying to look injured to draw an extra penalty. Im sure he was shaken up a little, but I would have more sympathy and respect if he jumped up and started throwing punches.
 
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Sadly Tony, you are right, some people here just don't seem to know the rule.

What I also find interesting with this whole thread is the fact someone other than me has finally mentioned that the Cooke hit on Savard was not illegal. I can't even begin to count the number of people that thought Cooke should have been thrown in Oz for that hit, when the bloody thing was not even illegal in the first place.

The other thing I find interesting is the people here who played goal saying that if they are out of the crease, they are fair game. Yet, at the same time, they also blast the teammates for not sticking up for them if they got hit. Looks to me like a case of 'can't fight your own battles.' You're willing to take a chance, yet you want others to fight your battles when you get smoked? Doesn't make sense to me.

Whole thing boils down to this: Lucic could easily have avoided the contact, but didn't - hell, he didn't even fake trying to avoid it. It's the way he plays; he's a hardnosed go-for-it kiind of player. He got a penalty. Miller is upset, and he has the right to be, given that him, Lucic, and everyone involved knows that Lucic could easily have avoided the contact.
 
Orca Pod said:
The other thing I find interesting is the people here who played goal saying that if they are out of the crease, they are fair game. Yet, at the same time, they also blast the teammates for not sticking up for them if they got hit. Looks to me like a case of 'can't fight your own battles.' You're willing to take a chance, yet you want others to fight your battles when you get smoked? Doesn't make sense to me.
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If anyone on your team that means a lot to your success gets hit hard, it is natural to respond. I think the others here blasting the team are speaking more to the fact that the Sabres didnt back up a teammate crucial to their success, not blasting them for not backing up their goalie.

The hit could have happened to Myers, Roy, or Vanek and the team would have done nothing in response..... Sad but true.
 
I was hoping after the hit that Miller would go after Lucic, figuring HE was the one that got hit. That swipe after the hit mean't nothing since he didn't make contact. I do wish his teammates stood up for him more...grabbing Lucic and going into the boards was weak! Did they forget that Miller carried this team the last three years? This team has seen this before
 
What Lucic did was worthy of a 2 minute penalty under the current rules. And thats what he was assessed.
Miller's complete overreaction to the contact during and after the game, thru expletive laced media interviews, has taken his reputation down a couple notches IMO. And frankly, I think his teammates relative lack of response is more a testament to how they also feel what happened really wasnt that big of a deal. Most of these guys would take a bullet for a beloved teammate if the situation really warranted it. Certainly Ruff has never held back in his statements to the media in the past if he feels wronged. ("thats the definition of a joke") His response to this was muted by his standards.
Perhaps we are getting a glimpse of Millers reputation amongst his teammates.....
 
Orca Pod said:
The other thing I find interesting is the people here who played goal saying that if they are out of the crease, they are fair game. Yet, at the same time, they also blast the teammates for not sticking up for them if they got hit. Looks to me like a case of 'can't fight your own battles.' You're willing to take a chance, yet you want others to fight your battles when you get smoked? Doesn't make sense to me.
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In response to this, that is the last thing I expect my players to do. I am speaking for myself and not others, but if I come out and get nailed, I better be ready to defend myself. That is the position I put myself in and if I piss and moan to my players that I got hit and "why didn't you protect me", that makes me the idiot.

I don't want to have any of my teammates to step in for me...at 6'01" and 225 I should be able to take care of myself, and if not and I get beat on, that's my own fault and maybe next time I will think twice....but I doubt it!! I am after all a goalie, and we are all a squirrly bunch to begin with.
 
Couple of thoughts on this.

For those saying he is fair game if he chooses to leave his crease. I can accept this logic if you are talking about goalies roaming behind the net. I don't accept it when he is trying to prevent a goal/scoring chance. Any NHL calibre goalie makes the same decision to beat Lucic to the puck. As for the rule itself; there is a reason for it. The League recognizes the value of the goalies, much like football does with the quarterback.

As for Buffalo teammates not defending their goalie. Although it would have been nice, Buffalo is no longer geared to that type of game and unfortunately they do not have the personnel always on the ice when such is needed.

At the end of the day, it looked worse than it was. Miller responded angrily, which is his right, and Lucic further promoted his questionable on-ice persona.
 
I wouldnt be mad if we called up Kassian and made him and Kaleta take runs at Bruins all game next time we played them, say Im overreacting, its classless, stupid, etc, because back in the old days when punks acted up they got sat down. Someone on the Sabres should have made sure Lucic couldnt skate off the ice when they were done with him, even if it took half the team. This isnt the first time Millers got run, injured and nothing has happened (If you remember Gomez did the same, and I still think hes a P.O.S), its shameful, everyone calls it fair game until its their goalie getting run. Not to mention Lucic took a shot on purpose, you dont take an "accidental" run then say your team would have handled it differently had it happened to you, because if thats the case you knew what you were doing.

Its a shame because I liked Lucic prior to that

Anything less than what we had with the Pens-Isles last year will not be enough to me, because we need to get rid of the idea that we are soft, which I think we clearly have the tag of being right now
 
Orca Pod said:
Or, next game, do what the Islanders did last year and forget about playing; go around and intentionally run every player you can find, beat the living crap out of them.
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That would be fun, I would love to see the Buffalo team try to take on Lucic, Chara, Thornton or even McQuaid, or all four. He'll get up, We'll all get up......it'll be Anarchy!!!
 
via LetsgoAmerks
Per Mike Harrington, Ryan Miller has a concussion and Drew MacIntyre has been called up. Looks like David Leggio will get his shot at multiple starts and Jeff Jakaitis will likely get called up from Gwinnet.
 
JoexBondo said:
That would be fun, I would love to see the Buffalo team try to take on Lucic, Chara, Thornton or even McQuaid, or all four. He'll get up, We'll all get up......it'll be Anarchy!!!
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Yea Boston has a lot of thugs that would tear apart the Sabres no doubt, but I'm sure next game Sabres will send a message.
 
A fan of Miller (as he represents us in the Olympics) and I don't take too much exception with the hit. Miller came out to poke-check the puck away, and knew he was going right into Lucic's patch with him barreling down at full speed. Both players knew an impact was eminent and braced for it. Neither turned away from the hit, and Miller got the worst of it. Miller got rocked, Lucic got 2, evens out and we all go home. Lucic could have turned away and Miller could have done the same. Instead both lowered their shoulders and we see how that worked out. Done. 2 minutes in the box and that's it. Nothing for Shanny to see here.
 
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