Back From Injury, Ryan Miller Hit by Jordin Tootoo

Welcome back to the NHL, Ryan Miller. Miller missed eight games after being hit by Milan Lucic and came back only to get run over by Predators winger Jordin Tootoo.

Unlike the Lucic hit, Miller was right in his crease and no case can be made for being fair game in there. Also unlike the Lucic hit, the entire Sabres team piled on top of Tootoo, including Miller, who threw some gloved-punches.

But like the game with the Lucic hit, and Mark Fistric’s hit on Nino Niederreiter earlier tonight, and with many of these other incidents, there was no real fight from it although there may be need for a few good chiropractors in the area. The linesmen and refs broke up everything.

Tootoo received a charging major and game misconduct. Paul Gaustad received a double roughing and misconduct. So there was four minutes of 4 on 4, then the Sabres went on a one minute penalty — and their goalie was hit, again.

Tootoo will surely be suspended. He hit a goalie in the crease, hard and seemingly on purpose — and he’s Jordin Tootoo (that’s got to be a good extra game or two right there).