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The record setting start to the Red Wings season may have been surprising to hockey fans, however, it’s the one-two
punch in net that’s got the hockey world buzzing.
Following the Wings 3-1 win over the Blackhawks, Detroit net minder Chris Osgood finds himself in an unusual position.
For the majority of his career, Osgood, who has been best known as a team player, now finds himself leading two out of three major statistical categories for goaltenders in the NHL. His save-percentage (.932) and goals-against-average (1.71) lead the entire NHL. His 19 wins and two regulation losses are a rarity in the NHL entering January in any season.
So what does all this mean? For the first time in Osgood’s career he can truly be considered a Vezina Trophy candidate. His success, if continued, will most likely earn him another Jennings Trophy and All-Star nomination.
But wait, there’s more!
Dominik Hasek, who started out the season with a 5-5-1 record and leg injury, has bounced back nicely, recording an 8-1-1 record in his last 10 games. Hasek appears to be the Dominator of old, especially with his recent performance against the Stars Saturday night, also earning his 375 career win, moving him in 11th place all time.
Hasek, who currently ranks third in all-star voting for starters, would normally be called upon as a reserve for the Western Conference, but this year it’s hard to argue against his team, Chris Osgood.
As long as both net minders stay healthy through the remainder of the regular season and succeed in the playoffs, Osgood and Hasek could go down as one of the best, if not the best goaltending tandem in NHL history.
Notes: Chris Osgood was voted the teams’ MVP by the fans through the first-half of the season, followed by Zetterberg. Hasek needs 11 wins to pass former Red Wing Mike Vernon for 10th place on the all time career win list. Chris Chelios needs 29 games to pass Ray Bourque and former Wing Larry Murphy on the all time games played list.
Mike Morland is a writer for LetsGoWings.com, the University Record, and the Michigan Journal. He can be heard every Tuesday from 3:00-4:00pm on WUMD's (www.wumd.org) sports talk show "The Upper Deck." Guest appearances include 88.3 WCBN-Ann Arbor and 89.3 WHFR-Dearborn.
