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unfortunately he isn't faking the mustache

Osgood wasn't playing as bad as many have come to believe. Howard came in and played great when Osgood got sick, and after that Osgood never once got a decent shot to get going again. This goes all the way back to November when there was plenty of time to sort things out. Granted, I do believe Osgood brought this on himself to some extent as well by mouthing off, in my mind, it never should have been made to be an issue. I said this WAY back when. There was no point in even creating the possibility for a goaltending issue. There's no drama on this team and these guys support each other. Keep them both warm and see how it goes down the stretch because after all, the playoffs are a different beast. I'm not saying I'm so smart. This is simple s***...really, really simple s***. This is how simple, and seriously, think back to November when this all started...contemplate: Don't utterly and completely ostracize a guy who went to the Cup Finals two years in a row, winning in '08 and carrying a battered team to game 7 in '09: good idea/bad idea? Again, I am absolutely not saying that Osgood made a wise move in running his mouth, but Babcock should not have let it ever get to the point where Osgood would be so upset to uncharacteristically run his mouth to the press. His lack of foresight on the matter was wholly and completely lacking. And also, don't forget, aside from simply not giving Osgood any sense of consistent starts, he did little to nothing to support Osgood at all in the press in continually saying that Howard gives the team the best chance to win when asked about Osgood. True or not at the time, it's just not going to help Osgood's state of mind when he's already stewing about not getting starts. And again, not saying Osgood was right to respond, but he was responding to fairly blatant criticisms of him that Babcock initially made in the press. And the bottom line is that Babcock didn't need to be saying what he was saying. I've been saying it for a long time, Babcock was creating a mess, and that mess is really starting to look like a mistake. And to respond to what will likely be the first rebuttal... Sorry, I don't buy for a second that Osgood wouldn't have been able to be a part of getting this team to the playoffs if given consistent starts throughout the season. He had some rough starts, but I have no doubt that he would've gotten things together especially down the stretch when things became more critical. Osgood's a big game goalie and he lives for the playoffs; there's no way he wouldn't give all he had to get there if it was on the line. I have complete faith in that.

Unless Howard stinks the joint out, you've got to ride him the rest of the way.

Osgood won't be any better. It's Howard or bust.

I don't blame Howard for these losses. Yeah, he gave up that 4th goal that he should have had, but the team is just as fault as he is. He needs to stay in, the team needs to play better.

i hope they play howard no matter what

As far as I'm concerned, I really understand that Howard is green in the playoffs and he was going to get some lumps. I'm more pissed off that Babcock bet the farm on Howard since December and now we have the best playoff goaltender in the last two seasons rusted pass the point of no return. Babcock doesn't seem to inspire the team, he plays favorites constantly, and now he has a rookie goaltender that is looking pretty sad between the pipes while the one he owns a ring to is taking stats.

Howard doesn't get to 74 playoff wins if you give up on him now. Ozzie wasn't always Mr. Playoff's you know. Not every goalie is going to pull a Ken Dryden in their rookie season. Extreme overreaction.

Not a chance. Sorry the Wings aren't a s***ty ran team like Washington that just changes goalies day to day. Jimmy needs to prove himself, and the Wings actually need to come to play in front of him.

Bryzgalov has let in only two less goals, and he has not been repeatedly hung out to dry by his defense.

I won't mind having him back but would rather trade him. A lot of people in here are talking about how the people who are mad at them shouldn't be. Doesn't everyone remember how he handcuffed the organization and we were left with Jason Williams as our free agent crop? I would rather trade him, playing in the top 6 is not for Hudler. He's slow, bad defensively and weak. He thrives playing o the third line against weaker opposition and playing as a PP specialist. If we can trade him I would do it for sure, as long as the return is half decent. Maybe try to get a couple prospects or something for him.

I'd take St. Louis over Hudler any day.St. Louis actually plays defense.

Already emailed these to Puck Daddy, not sure if they'll be shown there though. Then found out about this thread, enjoy: The Three Tenors. Unoriginal, but made it anyway.

We wouldn't be in the playoffs without Howard. He plays it out... win or lose, he has earned it. Wings will comeback and win the series. GO WINGS!

it doesn't seem like enough credit is being given to the Coyotes; they're younger, faster, hungrier and have better goaltending. For some reason people around here thought this was going to be a good matchup for the Wings when in fact it was the worst possible first round draw for us.

Thats a Dick Move, You yourself have bben one of the Osgood haters and Now you want him to bail us out... What happened to Howard is the man? Osgood should retire? come on..... You just want another reason to love Howard and hate Osgood. If Osgood starts and doesnt win because of the team in front of him.. then It will be HIS fault not the fact that Howard sucked enough to have to go to Osgood... Leave Howard in Win or Lose he's been your guy all year... let him ride it out! time to take off the training wheels....

You cannot play Ozzy at this point because Babcock had no other choice but to make his bed with Jimmy because of the way things panned out this year for the team. Coach has no choice but to stick with Howie from now on.... But a GAA of above 4.00 is NOT acceptable... I keep hearing about how he's the FRANCHISE goalie? At this point I think this is what your pretty much going to from Jimmy Howard now and into the future, Sorry but to me he is very average... Manny Legace average... But I'm really hoping that I'm wrong about Howie, GO WINGS!!! Have to have game 4 now! ha funny I always get the same feeling as well

Osgood sucks.

Someone should start a "30 posts for a game 4 win" thread. You know, 30 as in Ozzie's number.

Osgood is not playoff-ready. Howard is the Wings' only shot at this point, and even if he pulls a Legace he will be the man we have to rely on in the playoffs. Thread over.

Needs moar "I want Stanley" and "Hey Hey Hockeytown"