Miller faces long odds at making Team USA

ARLINGTON, Va. – Ryan Miller was simply brilliant at the 2010 Winter Olympics. He put the United States in a position to win silver and came within a goal of gold.

The Buffalo Sabres goaltender was named tournament MVP after making 139 saves on 147 shots over six games. Not a bad, little run.

His Olympic journey, however, may have ended there.

Even though he’s just 33 years old, potentially in the prime of his career, there’s a chance he might not be at the Sochi Games. Miller has struggled to have success since the last Olympics for the Sabres, whose rebuilding efforts may include trading him with one year left on his contract.

USA Hockey coaches and officials invited 48 players to this week’s camp because of their body of work or potential as a future Olympian, but management has made it clear how each player performs for their NHL club from October through December will be pivotal when the 25-man roster is revealed on New Year’s Day.

“Ryan is well aware of that,” general manager David Poile said Tuesday at the Washington Capitals’ training facility, as Team USA wrapped up a camp.

Miller is one of six goalies in the mix and he’s in a pack of perhaps four players vying for two spots behind Los Angeles Kings and Stanley Cup-winning star Jonathan Quick.

“It’s wide open,” Miller acknowledged.

That may be bad news for him.

Jimmy Howard of the Detroit Red Wings, Craig Anderson of the Ottawa Senators and Cory Schneider of the New Jersey Devils might get the other two spots as Quick’s backups. John Gibson, a 20-year-old prospect, was also invited to this week’s camp but isn’t expected to make the team.

Miller made it clear what his goal is over the final months of 2013.

“I want to make the team,” he said. “I want to be the guy who is there stopping pucks in Sochi. I want to start.”

Miller started in each of the six games at the Vancouver Games and the only game he didn’t finish was a 6-1 rout against Finland in the semifinals.

His run included a spectacular, 42-save performance in a 5-3 win over Canada in the preliminary round.

“It was the best two weeks I’ve seen a goalie play in my lifetime,” said Quick, who was the third goalie behind Miller and Tim Thomas in 2010.

Quick, though, has perhaps been the best goalie on the planet the past two years.