GoWings1905

Based off what? His last start two months ago?

I don't get it at all and I never will. I feel awful for Ozzie and am way past frustrated with Babcock's handling of the goaltenders this season. He did it all wrong and it's going to haunt the Red Wings either by Howard burning out, or faltering down the stretch/playoffs and we can't go back to Ozzie because Babcock never gives him a start. Just let Jimmy play every game the rest of the way at this point. Babcock has humiliated Ozzie enough and one lousy start isn't going to change anything.

I agree. More often than not I would advocate for Z and Pavel to be split up but not having a second line is killing this team. Filppula hasn't done anything to help on Z's line, Cleary is cold, Bertuzzi is colder. Franzen is going to score goals regardless of where he plays. I like your lines except I would flip Cleary/Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi with Datsyuk and Homer was a strong line for a stretch. Bertuzzi and Z have no chemistry though. I think it's a bit unfair to say Bert doesn't work with anyone when he carried this team offensively for a handful of games earlier.

Agreed. That statement becomes more obvious each game. He's nothing more than a defensively solid third line center that can't score goals to save his life.

No kidding. What the hell has Filppula done to earn that? Did his whopping eight goals promote him to sniper status for the shootout? Puzzling move with Johan Franzen and Todd Bertuzzi sitting on your bench.

Filppula over Mule and Bert? I don't get it - Filppula has no goal scoring touch whatsover. Horrible decision by Babcock at the worst time.

Red Wings: Datsyuk, Filppula, Helm Oilers: Horcoff

I'll take my chances with anyone but Nathan. He's never blown a save against the Tigers.

I like both players, but if I look at this in terms of the Red Wings then it is easily Hudler for me. Filppula is redundant on this team. We need more players with offensive talent like Hudler around.

Friday: Minnesota @ Columbus San Jose @ Calgary Detroit @ Edmonton NY Islanders @ Anaheim Saturday: Carolina @ Pittsburgh Ottawa @ Dallas Montreal @ Toronto St Louis @ New Jersey Philadelphia @ Atlanta Buffalo @ Florida Washington @ Tampa Bay Columbus @ Nashville x2 Chicago @ Phoenix Detroit @ Vancouver NY Islanders @ Los Angeles Sunday: NY Rangers @ Boston Calgary @ Minnesota Buffalo @ Carolina Tampa Bay @ Florida Nashville @ St Louis Atlanta @ Philadelphia Phoenix @ Dallas San Jose @ Edmonton Colorado @ Anaheim EDIT: Missed a game

What has Draper done wrong? I mean Ozzie gets trashed and he never even plays, but Draper has been FAR better this season than last. I think Draper has done fine in a fourth line role on the Wings' most consistent line with Helm and Eaves. He's still fast, solid defensively, and he can step in and win key face-offs. I'll take seven goals and a great consistent effort from a fourth line player.

Didn't we just have an identical thread like this last week? For a guy that has made ONE start in 2010, Ozzie sure does garner a lot of attention around here. How can anyone even judge him at this point? Always need something to complain about I guess... Yeah, because Danis and Leighton are really lateral moves to Ozzie.

Red Wings: Datsyuk, Franzen, Kronwall Flames: Langkow

This means the Wings will win tonight. I believe you picked the Wild and Sabres too, right?

I agree with this exactly.

Vancouver?

Much, much younger core and they play in the East.

Red Wings: Datsyuk, Filppula, Lidstrom Sabres: Roy

Maybe when your drunken state subsides, you'll realize that proving yourself from the bench is damn near impossible. He can't stop the puck if he never starts.

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

I can't see the Red Wings releasing Ozzie. He is a great teammate, mentor to Howard, and he has given so much to the Red Wings organization to those of us here who don't only think in the short-term past. I was at the game last night and Ozzie was messing around with Bertuzzi during the pre-game and you can tell the other players love having Ozzie around. Looking beyond whatever personal issues Ozzie and Babcock have, Ozzie has been nothing but professional throughout this season. The best goalie in the past two playoff runs and people want to toss him away despite the fact he has started ONE time since Christmas. If nothing else, there is no other goalie I want to step in should (hopefully not) Jimmy Howard falter down the stretch. I have said my part before on how I believe Babcock mishandled the goalie situation this season very badly. I almost don't want Ozzie to start another game because I don't want to hear people bash him if he has one "bad" start and Babcock goes back to Howard like every other occasion this season. Either way, I want Ozzie to get 400 wins in a Red Wings uniform because he absolutely deserves that. I don't like the way it has ended for Ozzie, but I am thankful for all of the great moments he brought to the Red Wings.

Similar to the Chicago game: Mediocre 1st Solid 2nd (not quite on the Chicago level) Awful 3rd The awful 3rd period is a very recurring issue on this team.

Agreed completely. Sadly, Babcock went about it all wrong and it's almost too late to even get Ozzie into a groove since he hasn't played in far too long. I was worried about this happening -- Howard hits the wall, his play drops off and Babcock left the team no other option but to keep on starting Jimmy. Ozzie deserves a shot.

I know where to point the finger -- at the Red Wings biggest weakness, which clearly is scoring goals. You can include most of the forwards on the team if you like besides the ones I previously mentioned and Homer, but the thread is about Filppula and Cleary. I don't know what more I can say. I don't think either is scoring enough goals for the Red Wings. Cleary has one goal in the past ten games; Fil has five goals in 2010 playing big minutes at forward. There aren't the only ones to blame, but they most definitely can produce at a higher level.

I'm far from his biggest fan, but Fil gets way too much (negative) attention around here. Where's the Zetterberg thread to discuss his poor play?