GoWings1905

Eaves is a frickin sniper. I'd go with Ozzie in the third. Another quick, ugly goal and it's over.

Mike Babcock is a smart guy. But damn it takes him way too long to recognize and fix a problem. How many four goals against games does Jimmy get?

Jimmy is flopping around more than Dom in there. At least Hasek stopped the puck. Jimmy looks completely overwhelmed in all aspects right now.

Last (bad) shot wins tonight? Alright. Get him out Babcock. Howard just flops around in the crease.

Come on! They are first place in the West in January. We should all recognize that unmatched feat.

It's January 7th and the Wings have three top six forwards out. We just don't care.

Jimmy Howard's positioning and technique is absolutely horrendous right now. I know the defense isn't playing up to par, but a starting goaltender needs to stop both of those goals. He was badly out of position for each one. I don't think that break worked Babs.

Friday, January 7 Carolina at Florida Toronto at Atlanta Ottawa at Chicago NY Rangers at Dallas Detroit at Calgary Edmonton at Vancouver x2 Columbus at Anaheim Saturday, January 8 New Jersey at Philadelphia NY Islanders at Colorado Boston at Montreal Tampa Bay at Ottawa Minnesota at Pittsburgh Florida at Washington Nashville at San Jose NY Rangers at St. Louis Buffalo at Phoenix Detroit at Vancouver Columbus at Los Angeles Sunday, January 9 Atlanta at Carolina Tampa Bay at New Jersey Dallas at Minnesota NY Islanders at Chicago San Jose at Anaheim

I don't disagree with that, but it isn't the Red Wings style. Whether that's right or wrong has been debated 8,789 times here already.

I would be happy with an enforcer, but it's not the end of the world to me the Red Wings don't carry one. They win hockey games. A lot of them. That's enough for me.

Well, we know he isn't coming to the Red Wings.

12:30 press conference... Rich Rod is officially out. It has to be Brady Hoke now.

Agreed. The Red Wings have a ton of trouble in their own zone when teams intensify the forecheck like the Oilers did in the third. I think Rafalski and Ericsson need to be split up - those two turned the puck over a ton tonight. That's not really anything new for Rafalski, but I think he would be better suited paired with someone more reliable defensively like Stuart. They have got to improve greatly as a team at cutting down on turnovers and improving defensive coverage. The front of the net is too accessible for opponents right now. Ozzie had some huge saves, especially when the game was 3-1 and then again near the end. Third goal was rather weak and even though the Oilers didn't have many shots, a good chunk were quality scoring chances. He gave the team a chance to win with some timely stops. I hope people don't look at the GAA or save percentage and deem this game a failure for Ozzie because it definitely was not the case.

It's really a marginal difference between the two. Besides, Ozzie's save percentage and GAA are going to fluctuate more just on the sheer amount of starts he's gotten. Someone posted the stats for Howard's past 11 starts. It hasn't been pretty.

He's busy now recruiting some quality individuals to go play offense at Florida. I think Harbaugh is going to the 49ers. Unfortunately, it's the worst timing possible for UM with so many openings in the NFL and Harbaugh coming off an incredible season at Stanford. He's the hottest commodity in coaching by far and the 49ers will pay him a ton to turn it around there. I still can't believe how quickly Stanford turned around and that isn't the easiest school to recruit at either. So if Harbaugh falls through, do they keep Rich Rod albeit the assumption everywhere that he was done? I know Brady Hoke's name pops up as a possible replacement. He definitely fits the Michigan mold and has done a really nice job at SDSU. Would the fanbase be happy with a lesser known name as long as it isn't Rodriguez?

What's hindsight about this? Howard has played poorly, Ozzie has looked solid, hence we believe Ozzie should get more starts. That's going forward and Babcock has yet to recognize the problem. I never said Ozzie SHOULD have been the starter all season. Right now, I believe Ozzie deserves more starts and Howard needs fewer. Besides, just because Babcock and the team has been successful in the past, doesn't mean we as fans should be content and accept every move they make. Yes, mistakes do occur but to say Babcock is always right just because he is the coach and we aren't is absurd. Especially considering Babcock has a very questionable history of handling goaltenders which directly relates to the current situation. I think we're past the point of calling it a mistake, it's a clear flaw in Babcock's coaching ability. I still think he's a terrific coach, but he's stubborn as hell and I don't want that stubborness to cost the Red Wings a wonderful opportunity at winning the Stanley Cup. Maybe Ozzie doesn't pan out, but then at least we know and tried it. All I'm asking for is Babcock to treat Howard the same way he treated Osgood in the past. He hasn't done that and with each Howard start to come, he continues to ignore a reasonable solution to the problem. Does anyone here trust Jimmy Howard if the playoffs were to start tomorrow? I guess a discussion board is intended to only praise the team as everything Ken Holland and Mike Babcock does is always correct as they are in the positions to make decisions. I'll be quiet now and watch Howard let in another four goals tonight as clearly that is the route Babcock has chosen for this team to follow.

These are the Red Wings, not Columbus with Steve Mason. If Howard is indeed only just slumping, then why not utilize a goalie with 400 wins and one that has proven recently the ability to give the team a chance to win? Ozzie looks as sharp as he has since the conclusion of the 2009 playoffs. With no Datsyuk and Cleary for an extended period, we need a goalie especially right now that is playing with confidence and can keep the team in a game. Jimmy Howard has had more than enough chances lately and hasn't been able to do that. No one here is saying everything is Jimmy's fault, but when things aren't going well, why not go with the guy who has won a couple games in his career? The worse thing that could happen is he plays as poorly as Howard and then the Red Wings are just back where they started. If Chris Osgood had a stretch like Jimmy Howard lately, he would be on the bench for months. All I want is a little consistency in Babcock's approach to the goaltenders. If Ozzie is playing well, then he deserves to get some more starts. All this crap about breaking Howard's confidence is quite frankly bulls***. Sit on the bench, work harder in practice and come back stronger. Chris Osgood had to do it even more than he deserved. Babcock is hurting the team right now by going back to Howard every game. Goalies aren't starters in this league just by title. He's had plenty of chances to get back on track and hasn't done so. It's beyond time to let Ozzie prove he can get the Red Wings wins. Until that happens, I'm sticking to my belief that Babcock has a double standard and continues to prove himself inept at handling goaltenders.

That's fine and all if the starter actually was playing like one.

I really don't like Mike Babcock at the moment. He has two different standards for his goalies. Howard has gotten starts after not so good ones. A month running now.

Glad Babcock finally made some changes to the defense pairings and goaltending. It only took about a month to see things weren't going well. Ozzie has got to get the start on Tuesday.

Brutal day for the Big Ten. Last game for Rich Rod? I hope not. (Sorry mannysBETTER)

The Flyers are losing to the Ducks. Red Wings are 3-0 against Anaheim.

I do recall a goalie making 46 saves not too long ago and his last name wasn't Howard. My point is I don't see why Babcock keeps going back to Howard so much when he has given up 4 goals in practically every start lately. You can bring up the past all you want, but Chris Osgood is playing better than Jimmy Howard right now. Ozzie needs to get some more starts. Besides, Jimmy had one great year and I can't criticize his play but Chris Osgood has won two Stanley Cups as a starter and that's acceptable?

Why the hell are you so obsessed with the Flyers? They have as many points as the Red Wings in a s***ty conference.

Jimmy "My team has to score five goals to win" Howard. Seriously Babcock. Time to give Ozzie more than one start in a row. It can't be worse.