The Anaheim Ducks have announced that goalie Ryan Miller is sidelined for at least six weeks with a knee injury. Anaheim has claimed St. Louis Blues goalie Chad Johnson off waivers to fill the roster spot.
INJURY UPDATE:
Goaltender Ryan Miller suffered a sprained MCL Sunday vs. New Jersey. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks. It is estimated he will be out for approximately six weeks.
Rickard Rakell has a sprained ankle. There is no timetable yet for his return. pic.twitter.com/H74pZ5zcXw
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) December 11, 2018
Ryan Miller Injured
Miller was injured during a goalmouth collision of Sunday’s game against the New Jersey Devils. He was caught in the middle of a collision with Anaheim defenceman Joshua Mahura and New Jersey forward Taylor Hall. Miller sprained his MCL and will be reevaluated in two weeks.
The East Lansing, Mich. native is 4-2-1 in 10 game this season. He has posted a 2.71 goals-against-average with a .922 save percentage.
Miller has played for the Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks in his 16-year NHL career. He has 374 wins, 270 losses and 81 overtime losses/ties in 747 games. The 38-year-old has a career GAA of 2.60 and .915 save percentage. Buffalo originally drafted Miller in the fifth round, 138th overall of the 1999 NHL draft.
Ducks Claim Chad Johnson
Anaheim signed Johnson to quickly fill the void. Johnson is 2-6 in 10 games this season with a 3.55 GAA and ,884 save percentage. He does have a shutout this season.
Johnson has played for the New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres and St. Louis Blues in his nine-year NHL career. He has 80 wins, 67 losses and 15 ties/overtime losses in 183 career games. The Pittsburgh Penguins originally drafted him in the fifth round, 125th overall of the 2006 NHL draft.
OFFICIAL: We've claimed goaltender Chad Johnson off waivers from the St. Louis Blues. pic.twitter.com/7F02xjnLP9
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) December 11, 2018
What This Means for the Future
The Ducks will have to rely on John Gibson more until Miller returns. Gibson and Miller were a great 1-2 punch for Anaheim that has them tied for second in the Pacific Division with the San Jose Sharks.
Johnson has struggled this season, but the change of scenery may help him out. Anaheim does concentrate on defence and that will aide Johnson.
ANAHEIM, CA – OCTOBER 21: Ryan Miller #30 of the Anaheim Ducks reacts to a shot during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at Honda Center on October 21, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
