puckloo39

At least we got as far as the WCF with Hasek in net. Only a coincidence that it was for the first time since 2002? Doubt it!

Someone as unpredictable as Dom can't really be predicted. I can't see him walking off and giving up, when there is nothing wrong with him, physically. Or so he says. I can see him doing whatever is best for the Wings, which could include leaving his salary on the table and leaving this to Ozzie. If that happens, and the Wings go into a spiral -- which around here would mean losing, like, 5 more games this season - then I can see fans piling on Oz and blaming Hasek for leaving. I can also see the scenario where, if Ozzie is out for any part of the playoffs, an untested Howard is left in goal for us. I have not had an opportunity to see Jimmy play, but a great training camp is probably not much of a basis for thinking he can step up this year or replace Hasek. I'd hate to see the Wings' future in goal with his confidence ruined, because people were too quick on the trigger to dump one of the best players the NHL has ever seen. It's hard to believe Dom won't play better, as in his next game out. If he wins 4-5 in a row, this will all go away.

Dom will be OK given time. He won't be playing tonight, which I think is a mistake, but they're sticking with the no back to back plan. Watch (if you are able to, and not the victim of the NHL Network) and see the Wings come back stellar tonight -- just the game Dom needs to get some zing back. But he won't be out there. That's the way this season is going to go, I believe. As for EZ's comment: wishing for Dom or any other Wings to go down injured is true class. Do something "useful" and go start another bashing thread.

He has stopped playing his game, as he's always played it, for some reason. Hasek deep in the net is a problem, and that's where he is now. Hasek out of the net, yelling, smacking the stick on the ice, and playing like a wild man... that's Dom in form. That's not what I see, for whatever reason. I think he will work it out, and we will see him back in form. All he needs is one good game, without the weird bounces and breakdowns in front of him, to get some level of confidence back. At least the Red Wings themselves have not given up on Dom, and he won't give up, either.

I will join you in Lockout 2007, F. Michael. Who knew they were going to do this, she said, as she pays the huge cable bill with digital, HD, and Center Ice, all of which was purchased solely so that one could view yonder Red Wings. Not. I hope the Wings are disgusted with themselves and play much, much better tonight v. the BJs.

true enough (all you said, I just paraphrased, OS). The game last night was a result, at least in part, of failure on the part of the D to simply do their jobs. Chelios was missing, and that, to me was critical. I doubt we will see another game like what the Wings put on the ice last night again. At least I hope not. Several players are struggling (at least by LGW standards), not just Dominik. He's just the most obvious target. They need to issue him a jersey with one of those red and white Target dot logos on it.

You are right on, but good luck with this... same thing I have been saying. There are people here who either don't get it or don't want to. Ozzie was smart to be sick yesterday, as that game v. Chicago was not the one to throw Dom into for any type of come-back. It's not likely the Wings will play another one like this. Whomever is in goal will benefit from that fact. Couldn't possibly say that any better.

I didn't know that they only hired Dom to steal games. That's the first time I've heard that, actually. I am going to go read some archives in DetNews and such, and see how I missed that. He's done so on occasion, certainly, but hasn't had to when the team played well. As it should be. I thought they brought him back because he played very well last season, including being involved in getting to the third round for the first time since 2002. So, they must have thought he had some value. Ah,well... I figure he can't go any lower, so the only direction left is up. Or out. I hope the Wings mgmt. handles it well, whatever they decide.

I doubt Dom will play tomorrow. I need to figure out a way to watch online, since the Center Ice package I pay big bucks for will most likely not be showing it.

how much money is left over to get a rent a goalie, if something happens to Ozzie? I can't picture winning the Cup with Howard in net, if Ozzie's not available, but that would be quite a story, wouldn't it? Once Dom is gone, he's gone. I hope the Wings brass have a backup backup plan, if they consider getting rid of Dom after four losses. He doesn't look good, but I don't think giving up is the answer. But who knows? The agenda is to win, and if they think they cannot with Dom, and the answer is really removing him from the equation, then they should do that. you know him, too. That's the sign of Dom, off his game. Out of the net, yelling and screaming, into the game and in the zone -- that's Hasek on his game. I haven't seen it yet this season. I would love to know why. To everyone who constantly holler, "Stay in the net, Dom!" -- this is why you don't want that with him.

Back up is a really "safe" place to be in Detroit, so I think it would fine for Dom. Shouldering the #1 spot in a place like Detroit is no picnic, especially in the New NHL. It's not like it was even a few years ago. Hence you see other goalies who "ought" to be in the top 10, down there in the bottom ten with Dom. I am not sure Babcock sees either one of them as the clear starter at this point. I think he looks at the team they are facing and makes a decision on who's the better player to put in goal, or who is healthy and can go. Dom already knew he was not going to start as many games this season as last. He probably wouldn't have then, either, had Ozzie been healthy and available. If the Wings take no responsibility at all for the game tonight, or for the horrible game they played in the loss in the Anaheim freak show game, and put those losses all on Dom, then my opinion of all of them just went way down. But I believe they know better, so no worries here!

I would think all the Ozzie-Lovers would adore Hasek right now. He's making Chris look incredibly good. No need for all the hatred for Dom, even if you're of the opinion that he's lost all four of this season's losses all by himself. He hasn't, any more than Ozzie won all the games by himself. Who says Dom won't play backup, by the way? I have not seen him say that, or anyone from the Wings suggest it, for that matter. And it's not Dom saying he's the starter. He says, I play when the coach tells me to. So, address all complaints to Mike Babcock and the Wings management. Hasek was a perfect team mate last season, and so far as I know, this one as well.

AP report on the game Sharp gave Chicago the lead with 6:52 left with the Blackhawks' third short-handed goal of the game. Nicklas Lidstrom couldn't keep the puck in at the blue line and then fell, giving Sharp a breakaway the other way. He fought off Nicklas Kronwall [me: not that hard to do, I saw, once I watched the DVR'd game] and out (sic: put) the puck past Dominik Hasek. After picking up the puck from a faceoff in his own zone, Bourque carried it into the neutral zone and banked it off the boards. He then beat Rafalski to the puck to give himself a breakaway, and then beat Hasek with a wrist shot. With D like this, who needs enemies? j/k I am sure Dom is very upset with himself, but he probably isn't the only one in the locker room who knows they can do better. The Wings have (literally or figuratively) not fallen on their faces in front of Ozzie, yet. Bench Dom, and hopefully, the dream season will continue, as if he is the only reason they lost a game. Stranger things have happened. Much stranger.

this might be the most intelligent post I've seen in quite some time. As for tomorrow, I bet a bunch of us don't get to see it, the game is on the List o' Death on the new NHL Network, so Center Ice viewers in this neck of the woods will have the game stolen from us.

hey, Booster... there was no need to start a new thread for Dom Bashing. Pretty much every thread on the forum features some of that right now. Good try, though. I love the sentiment that we should try and support both goalies. Some of us do. Many do not. I want the goalie in there who can win. I also want the goalie in net, in front of whom this team will play great hockey. If that goalie is not Dom, then so be it.

if it's age, and he's really lost it, Dom will be the first to say so. I hope it's not this year either. He's no quitter, though, so I won't be surprised to see him come back.

anything's possible, Toby, I agree. I can't see Dom staying where he is, however, anymore than I can see Brodeur or Kiprusoff staying in the bottom ten. The difference could be the age, although Hasek isn't exactly a normal 42 year old specimen. Again, we go with Ozzie and Howard, and hope that Ozzie doesn't get injured? We can't keep all three goalies on the roster, can we?

not to quibble Red, but lots of fans here are saying dump him, they're just using more... um, colorful language to suggest that. I don't have a problem with Ozzie starting, especially if the team has decided, even if it's subconsciously, to play better in front of him. It's a mental thing happening here, and it's not just Dom who's got the problem, I think.

an intelligent and reasonable one. see my post and the numbers which indicate that people are over-reacting.

really?

You're very kind, Red. I will stick with The Goalie, though. He's going to get back, if he is given the chance. I have no issue with playing Ozzie. But what do the Wings do with Dom? Perhaps the people who are suggesting Grand Rapids (although they could use some help in goal, from what I've read) or waiving him, are kidding. They may as well be, since Kenny Holland will never do that to Dom, nor to Ozzie if the tables were turned and Oz was playing badly. One question: if they dump Dom, and go with Ozzie and Howard, and something happens to Ozzie... we go to the playoffs with Howard and a rent-a-goalie? I am thinking no Cup in that case, no offence to Jimmy who has played 3 NHL games, or is it 4 now?

nah, Flip, it's over, we are done for. Just for fun I went to nhl.com to see who's in the doghouse with Dom, with sub .900 s% Leading the bottom 10: Brodeur .892; a little closer to Dom's neighborhood, Khabibulin @ .888, and next door neighbor in Hell? None other than Miika Kiprusoff with a sparkling .887. Fire them all, I say! Demote Brodeur, put Kipper on waivers. None of the above have "lost it" -- BTW, Brodie's lost 10 games, Khabi 6, and Kipper 8. Dom's lost 4, and didn't do it alone any more than the above mentioned crappy goalies did. just sayin...

He needs more shots, not fewer, if he's ever going to get back in it. Dom isn't the only goalie with bad stats based on low SOG, he's just the only one with those stats who is playing for the Wings. Therefore, it's inexcusable.

unless Hasek caused all the penalties leading to the PP opportunties in this games and several others, I'd have to agree that D needs to work on siopping guys like Sharp. In several other games, they were blocking shots and cutting off breakaways, but not lately. Did Nick just hit an ice rut? That was a really poor time to fall down.

I only saw the last 15 minutes of the game, so I can't say what was on Dom and what was on the team tonight. As for pinning the blame on the goalie... welcome to LGW! For those who are hoping the waive Hasek or send him to Grand Rapids... :rotflmao: