Sabres goalie Miller heads toward endurance record

BUFFALO, N.Y. - While much of Buffalo spent last weekend enjoying the city's typically rowdy St. Patrick's Day festivities, Ryan Miller quietly took in the parade, had dinner, went home and kicked back on the couch.

"It was fun," the Buffalo Sabres goalie said, fully aware his definition of fun these days differs from the norm. "This is the first extended break I've had in a long, long time. You get it where you can."

For Miller, this was what he called a chance to "check out" on a rare day off -- no practice, game or media commitment -- during a grueling season in which he's had to check in for a career-high 70 games and counting, three short of setting the Sabres' single-season record for appearances by a goalie.

It's a heavy workload for any goalie, never mind a player in only his fourth full NHL season. And it's one that Miller has accepted in his quest to join the league's elite.

It was one thing to play a contributing role on a talent-laden and offensively potent Sabres team that gained the Eastern Conference finals the previous two seasons. Miller is keenly aware of the bigger test of putting this young Sabres squad -- minus Chris Drury, Daniel Briere and now Brian Campbell -- on his shoulders and carrying it to the postseason.

"It's a learning curve for sure, and I feel if I can handle the amount of games, and the pressure that comes with playing in this town and being a contender, then that would be a step forward in my career," Miller said, acknowledging he's experienced mental fatigue. "It's the most taxing thing I've done short of the playoffs."

The job is not yet done. With seven games left, Buffalo sits two points behind Boston for the Eastern Conference's eighth and final playoff spot.

Through it all, Miller's numbers have been consistent.

His 2.60 goals-against average this season is 10 points lower than his career average, and his three shutouts nearly doubled his career total to seven. The only knock against Miller is his performance in shootouts.

After going 10-4 in shootouts and allowing nine goals on 46 attempts last season, Miller has gone 2-7 this year, allowing 12 goals on 24 shots. The Sabres offense, though, has let him down, having only scored on seven of 24 shootout attempts in games Miller has played.

It wasn't coach Lindy Ruff's intention to work Miller so hard when the season began, but he's been forced to lean heavily on his starter after the Sabres dropped as low as 13th place in late January.

"He's been resilient," Ruff said.