Ryan Miller knew the big man of U.S.A. Hockey was high above him at the Air Canada Centre last night, but the Buffalo Sabres goalie made sure not to the audience enter his mind.
Job No. 1, Miller said, was to win a game against the Leafs. And with many more performances like that with or without Leafs and Team U.S.A. general manager Brian Burke as an eyewitness, the business of landing the starting job at the Vancouver Olympics will take care of itself.
"If Brian Burke is here, that's great," Miller said after a 38-save performance that improved his league-best save percentage and earned him his third shutout of the season.
"I'm glad I can perform well in this rink, but I'm not getting geared up more because of (the presence of Burke and Leafs/Team U.S.A. coach Ron Wilson.)"
"He's not skating against me. I try not to focus on it.
"I think I have done a good job of not bringing it to the forefront in my thought process."
