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IMO he should play Howard for the fact that he is much more likely to get a win tonight... Ozzy has been screwed this year, no doubt, but at this point experimenting with a very very cold goaltender would most likely backfire... If we would have won last night, I'm sure Babacock would have played Ozzy tonight, but oh well, what's done is done and all the chips are on Howard to get us into the playoffs.

Chris Osgood will make more money this year sitting on the bench doing nothing than I will in my entire lifetime, no matter how hard I work. If he has a problem with that, maybe he should call Darren McCarty for a little perspective on life. Or Jiri Fischer. Or Vladimir Konstintinov.

woah, a possible 60+ starts for Howard! how can this rookie kid handle such a workload, it's not like other goalies in the nhl ever play more than 50 games a season he'll be dead tired by the playoffs. damn it babcock

I believe the goalie situation has been handle poorly this season. Jimmy was on earlier in the season, but he's been inconsistant since the break. He maybe young and can handle the workload like Marty does, but one thing that people totally under estimate...no it's not physical toughness, it's mental toughness. A couple of bad games for a rookie, especially one he maybe resposible for (bad goals)...they start to add up, and doubt sets in. Babcock should have rested Howie a few games when he was ON, not when he's slumping, but even so, the kid isn't getting a break when he's slumping. That will have a lasting effect for the rest of the season, garanteed. With that doubt/question in the back of his head...going into the play-offs, if we get there, will spell doom for the kid...most likely be branded a "he's a good goalie who isn't a pressure player". Once that stigma sticks, it's hard not to think about it. This is where Ozzie, IMO, will probably be one of the best goalies in modern hockey. Sure he's a small guy (less net covered), sure he's not as athletic due to the fact he's been a stand-up goalie for 95% of his career (which I might add going butterfly was a bad idea for him...that's just me, though), but the man has heart AND has mental toughness like no other. Nothing bothers this guy, be from critics or fans. When they doubt him, he has the mental toughness to prove people wrong (which you would think people on this board, and most of the fans in general whould learn to never count him out...he's proven people wrong so many times in his career). This is why he's such a good play-off goalie. He's plays better with the pressure on him...that's how some people are wired. Just look at his stats (do NOT compare his stats from 10 years ago to todays goalies...he was above average, and pretty close to top 7 when you compare him to goalies of that era. Anyway, my point is, play Ozzie more and give Howie a rest. Give Howie the start in the play-offs? Probably. The torch needs to be passed eventually, but if we run into an other Hasek situation, you want a warmed up and oiled goaile ready to play. Right now? All Ozzie has seen is a few games in releif (which fans want him to win us a 5-1 deficit by the time he comes in) and like 1 start in almost 3 months? That's bad goalie managegment imo. /shrug

It makes perfect sense. We're trying to make the playoffs. I would rather go into the playoffs with a tired Howard than not go into the playoffs at all. I'm guessing this is Babcocks line of thought - Do I want to start a tired Howie in the playoffs, or do i want to go golfing in April? The days are gone when we could have our cake and eat it too. That being said, I do feel bad for Oz. He's still awesomely awesome in my eyes.

At least their might be a fight tonight.

Ozzie's been brutal on the road, and the Wings NEED at least one point, end of story.

Because babcock doesn't trust Osgood, simple as that. I wouldn't trust Osgood either if the rumours floating around are true....

NHL Network is offering another free preview, starting today (March 20) and running through Saturday, the 27th. I hadn't read or heard anything about this, so I figured there had to be some others out there that hadn't, either. I apologize to anyone that this doesn't apply to, because I can't find a decent article that lists every provider that offers it. I'm watching it on DirecTV right now, though. There's an article about it on the Dallas Morning News' website. Per the article, it's best to check with your cable provider. Fellow DirecTV subscribers (that don't regularly have it) NHL Network is channel 215.

He has great offensive instincts, so it'll be interesting to see what happens. I can't wait for people to say he's horrible at it after his first time playing the position in 5 years or so.

In Howies last 5 starts he is 3-1-1, has a 1.77 GAA, and a has a .928 save %. Sure Ozzy should have played last night, but to others who are saying Howie isnt on fire right now are just plain wrong.

Look at my post on the 2nd page, because I completely agree with you and back it up with numbers.

I see where you're coming from, but Howard is our #1. Simple as that.

^ Agreed. There is no way Mule would have scored 50. Does he have the ability, Yes. But with our philosophy of rolling 4 lines it makes us more dangerous so that we dont have to rely on one player scoring 50. Depth will take us further in the playoffs than 1 superstar. Besides if that 1 superstar cools off, then you're screwed. At least this way you've got 9+ other guys who have potential to score.

Yes. The person below me has too much sugar on a daily basis.

Actually never have had a convenience store job. The person below me has given/received a nuggie recently.

I did, but wasn't surprised or upset that it was since it was pretty obvious it went in wide during replays. The person below me has smacked somebody else Three Stooges style before or has been involved in a Three Stooges skit of some kind.

I haven't, but that is primarily because I barely pay any attention to the broadcasters that much regardless of what the sport or game is, I usually just watch the game. The person below me understands what the parents and adults say in the Charlie Brown/Peanuts shows.

Nope, was watching Florida-Florida State but that game has slowly turned into a blowout Florida's way, now I'm watching Texas Tech get a run for their money by Baylor of all schools to potentially ruin their Big 12 Title and BCS chances. Will flip b/w this and Alabama-Auburn before the Wings game. The person below me has attempted to take over the world like Pinky and the Brain.

Only did it once when there was a minor league hockey club where I went to college years and years ago, but there's no hockey down here. The person below me has smacked themselves in the face with a rake before, Sideshow Bob style.

Nope cause I'm not that old yet (), I had to dye my hair twice in one day though years and years ago when I tried to dye my hair blond and it turned out to be awful-looking. Will never dye my hair again. EDIT: Bah, late...I have only been to Las Vegas in the airport/plane twice to different cities, both times single, both times departing single. I will hopefully go to Las Vegas in a few years though. The person below me has drank a gallon of milk in an hour before without throwing up.

Depends on the speech and/or crowd. Drunken friend speech, not really. Professional speech to workers or customers, kinda. The person below me has fallen asleep with their head in the toilet before.

Not now. Sleep for me during the week is usually reserved between 11:00pm - 4:30am/5:00am, pending sporting events. The person below me has picked their nose this week. I dunno........

Nope. Unless shooting projectiles with rubber bands every now and then counts, then no. The person below me has hugged a tree before. *shrugs*

Nope. Summer. Hurricane season. A few recent birthdays when I have evacuated from hurricanes... *gets off personal drama queen soapbox* The person below me watching Beavis and Butt-Head when they were popular and was not afraid to admit it back then.