Anaheim’s Miller sets mark for wins by U.S.-born goaltenders
Ryan Miller picked up a milestone win in his first game in two months.
Miller became the all-time leader in wins by a U.S.-born goaltender Sunday night as he made 23 saves as the host Anaheim Ducks beat the Wasington Capitals, 5-2. It was Miller’s 375th victory, breaking a tie with John Vanbiesbrouck.
“He’s definitely a goalie I looked up to and a nice moment. He was a fixture through the 1980s and ‘90s when I was growing up and watching hockey,” Miller said. “I was happy I could do it at home with the family here.”
Miller tied Vanbiesbrouck Dec. 2, when the Ducks rallied for a win at Washington. The 17-year veteran though had not played since Dec. 9 due to a knee injury.
“It is very satisfying to come off an injury and make a difference. When you have a knee injury. you are never sure what will happen, and it took longer than I had hoped,” Miller said. “I had a few clunky moments but I worked through it.”
Anaheim is last in the NHL in goals scored but it is another story against Washington. The Ducks scored 11 times in the two meetings this season, including six in the third periods.
Sabres
Buffalo forward Kyle Okposo has been sent home for further medical evaluation three days after being punched in the face during a fight with the New York Rangers’ Tony DeAngelo.
Coach Phil Housley gave no details on Okposo’s condition while he provided an update after the Sabres practiced Monday in Florida. Though the nature of the injury is unclear, Okposo did not return after being felled by DeAngelo’s punch during the fight 7:51 into the third period Friday night in a 6-2 loss against the Rangers.
Okposo traveled with the team for the start of its threegame road trip at New Jersey Sunday, but he did not play in the 4-1 loss against the Devils.
The 30-year-old has a history of concussion-related troubles during his 12 NHL seasons. He missed the final two weeks of the 2017-18 season and spent a week in a hospital after sustaining a concussion during what he called a routine hit in practice.
He also missed a week last March after sustaining a concussion following a collision with Ottawa’s Bobby Ryan.
Housley also announced defenseman Marco Scandella is listed week-to-week with an upper-body injury.
Flames
Michael Frolik and Mikael Backlund each had a goal and an assist in the third period to help the host Calgary Flames beat the Arizona Coyotes, 5-2, Monday afternoon. Mark Giordano also had a goal and an assist, and Derek Ryan and Austin Czarnik had the other goals for the Flames.
Lightning
Nikita Kucherov had two goals, three assists Monday night to lead visiting Tampa Bay to a 5-1 win against Columbus. In the process, the Lightning did the Penguins a favor because the Blue Jackets’ loss left them with 69 points and tied with the Penguins for third in the Metropolitan Division.