Casey

Amen. Going with recent history... April 18, 2008. Game 5, first round against Nashville. Series tied at 2, game tied at 1 in OT. Osgood made some unbelievable saves in that OT, opening it up for Franzen to toss in the game winner, putting it just over Ellis' shoulder on a breakaway. Clutch enough? April 5, 2009. Minnesota. Third period, triple screen, Osgood makes a save off Gaborik that everybody thought was a sure goal. Flipped the glove like it was nothing and utter denial. Essentially ended Minnesota's playoff hopes with that save, and preserved the win. Clutch enough?

Interesting use of medical jargon, but where in hell do you see that from a bridging vein tear? That's a classic subdural hematoma, not a hemangioma.

I just made $175 off my NCAA pool. Life is sweet!

People keep saying this. Have you ever looked at his record outside Detroit? I see a season with the Islanders and two with the Blues where he took them to the playoffs as a starter. Are you implying the lowly Blues and Islanders were stacked all of a sudden when Osgood showed up? Could it be that he's better than you give him credit for?

They might have been viewing Cleary through the eyes they wanted to see him with- they expected him to be an ass, so that's what they saw. Everything I've ever seen says hockey players are some of the most down-to-Earth sports people there are, and your experience demonstrates that. I've yet to be lucky enough to meet a player, though it'll come sometime. Football players, on the other hand, I've met a few. Chester Taylor of the Vikings, for example, went to my undergrad. Heck of a nice guy- I've a poster he signed during spring practices one year.

Answering 2 for 1, Yes, I've picked up quite a few seashells. Gulf of Mexico, Lakes Superior, Michigan and Erie. I got some awesome abalone last time in Florida. Digital alarm clock? Nothing but as long as I've had alarm clocks. TPBM knows where their pancreas is.

Concur. I had a clean view from the cheap seats, and Ozzie had no chance on #2- he was interfered with heavily. Good effort all around.

Lots of teams do just that. The Tigers absolutely gutted the AAA Toledo Mud Hens in '06, right when the Hens were gearing up for a Governor's Cup run.

I'll damn near guarantee it lights a fire on them- they've played their best games of the season with Helm, Leino et al. in the lineup. Couple a load of hungry rookies/pseudorookies (Helm, Downey) with a bunch of vets, and they're going to play well.

Not the teammates, the officials. They don't know Pavel well enough to know how he speaks.

I'll have to start pestering Jack for a blank jersey, or maybe a Datsyuk. Want to see a bad knockoff? Here. Couldn't even get the letters lined up, or the CCM to look even close.

Logo on the front, not the name on the back. Go Wings.

I'd love to see it, but Pav's English isn't good enough at this point. That's what's holding him back.

The playoffs. They slumped like this in '02.

Sonofa...

Kronners?

Okay guys, 7 minutes. I'd like a goal, please.

Man, that is such a weak slogan. Fire on Ice sent chills down the spine. This is just crap.

The shuttle from the Hockeytown Cafe is free, though parking in their garage is five bucks. What my wife and I did last time instead of wait for the shuttle was drop a buck for People Mover tokens, ride it as far North as it goes, and walk the last couple blocks to the Cafe. Faster that way, and even in the rain at 11pm it was a nice walk.

The cap goes away when the playoffs start.

Don't get too used to Downey, Leino and Abdelkader, GR. The playoffs are coming for the big club. I feel their impending pain- the Mud Hens get gutted by the Tigers nearly every year, especially back in '06.

If anything, I'd say our problem as rabid fans is that we're too close to the team. We see all the little flaws. Lidstrom has an off game, and we see what is missing. Everybody else still sees a 6-time Norris winner who's better than most of the league even on an off night. Osgood has an off game or two, and people are saying to waive or trade him. The league remembers how we went to him in game 5 against Nashville, and went 14-4 the rest of the way to finish with that big silver trophy. Is it frustrating as hell when they don't put up 100%? Yes. if I had my way, Lebda would never play another game on D, and Maltby would be a depth player sitting in GR. Yet, even when they're off, they are still better than most. When they're on? Wings 3, Devils 1- 11/8 Wings 6, Sharks 0- 12/18 Wings 4, Blackhawks 0- 12/30 Wings 6, Blackhawks 4- 1/1 Wings 4, Sharks 1- 2/25 Can they win it all? Yes. Yes they can.

A strategy that has made me money in the past with betting pools is to simply follow those who know. I'm only one guy, I can only see so much, and the Vegas mavens tend to watch everything closely enough that they have perspective. With that, the current futures for the '08-'09 Stanley Cup. Lower is better. Teams Sportsbook.com SportsBetting.com OddsMaker.com BetUS.com Detroit Red Wings +250 +250 +300 +150 New Jersey Devils +700 +700 +500 +175 Boston Bruins +500 +500 +200 +200 San Jose Sharks +400 +400 +300 +200 I used an arbitrary cutoff of the lowest odds for a team has to be better than +400. For laughs, the weakest playoff team according to the bookies is St. Louis at +3000. Yeah, losses tick me off. Yes, Osgood's play was weak at best in the third tonight. I personally would put Conklin in and leave him there. Yet, the odds are there- Detroit is still the favorite in 3 of the 4 largest oddsmakers sites. In the 4th they're right in it. Folks, it's not 1998, but I only need to look on my wife's jersey to see what should be the mantra. Believe.

Explain the Islanders under Ozzie's care, please. He dragged them kicking and screaming into the playoffs. I'm not saying he's an elite goalie, but he has carried teams before.

All I can say is I'd better see Conk in net for the Wild game. Ozzie's not quite right.