Miller accuses ref of swearing

Dec 10, 2008 - 6:18 AM BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- NHL players often have cursed at officials during games. According to Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller, the skate recently was on the other foot.

After a team practice on Tuesday, Miller informed coach Lindy Ruff that a referee swore at him during Buffalo's 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins the previous night.

When asked about a conversation he had with Ruff following the Sabres' practice session at the Amherst Pepsi Center in Williamsville, New York, Miller revealed that one of the referees of Monday's game cursed at him during a stoppage of play shortly before his team received a bench minor for arguing an interference call on Thomas Vanek midway through the second period.

"He told me to 'go (bleep) myself' because I was just asking a question," Miller said, refusing to reveal whether it was Tim Peel or Justin St. Pierre who used the expletive. "I was just kind of joking around (to Ruff on Tuesday), saying, 'Maybe that kind of started what got the bench minor going.'

"To be honest, I was respectful. I asked him a question and he told me maybe I should 'go (bleep) myself.'"

Despite winning Monday's game, the Sabres were unhappy with the officiating as they received a total of nine minor penalties and faced three 5-on-3 shorthanded situations while the Penguins were called for just four infractions.