puckloo39

thanks, Crym, for posting a thought without using f*** and sh** to punctuate your points. Bingo: Instant increase in credibility!

eh, it's fine. They can say whatever they want. I won't lose faith in him. I do hope they can figure out what's going on, though. Unless Dom has some rare type of hockey Alheimer's, I can't believe he's forgotten how to play goal, overnight. He works as hard as he ever did. I do believe he would do better (and his numbers would look better, too) if he saw more than a dozen shots per game.

most fans DO know this, it's just easier to pile on Hasek than to admit the team doesn't play very well in front of him, for whatever reason. Hasek needs to see more shots if he's ever going to get back into it. I don't see that happening this season.

Huh.. this wasn't what I was hoping for, for certain. I got home just in time to see Nick Lidstrom fall on his face and let Sharp skate in all alone on Dom. Is this how the whole game has been?

thanks for the GDT, MCK! You did a great job on it, as usual. If the Wings all show up and play well in front of Hasek, we will win. If they don't and there are constant PKs, 5-3s, and a dozen odd-man rushes like the last few games with him in net, we probably won't. Buckle down, Red Wings! Get better, Ozzie! Come back, Aflac! Shut 'em down, Dom!

it was pretty poetic, wasn't it? The Wings were his destiny! "Flair" might not be the word I'd apply to Hasek's game... more like "unpredictable." Statue of Liberty saves and sticking the glove in the shooter's face could be called flair, I guess. What Dom did over the years was simply do things no one else thought of or had ever seen before. Stopping the puck with a blocker glove, without a stick, for instance. He was probably doing that for 7-8 years as the top goalie in Europe, but was the first to do it here in the NHL. Other goalies do it all the time now, especially Biron and Roloson - wonder why that is? The two-pad stack save is a trademark, though I don't see him do it much anymore. The snow angel used to be pretty much Dom's alone, but you see it, along with attempts at the death roll save, all over the league now. A lot of what Dom alone used to do, other goalies emulated. In some ways, Hasek changed the game, or so the pundits say. How many times have you heard an announcer proclaim a crazy-looking save "Hasekian"? Anyway, he's here, he's a Red Wing, and his mission is to win games. No doubt about that. I hope Dom kicks @** tonight, and ever after. Go get 'em, Dom.

sorry... I have similar luck with Dom, on the rare occasion that I have tickets to a Wings game. But if I get Ozzie in net in Dallas (Jan 5), I will be far from disappointed! I think Dom was scheduled to play anyway, even though Ozzie is ill. Have a nice b'day... and get well soon, Ozzie (for Jen!)

I would give it to Dom, if Ozzie's not OK. I think the business about no back-to-backs is overkill (thought so last season, too). I am not saying make it a regular thing, but Dom would be just fine. Better than fine, actually, he'd probably love it.

we shall see, starting tomorrow. Ozzie's sick, Howard may be called up Dom will be fine. The only ones who have no faith in him seem to be LGW fans, as the team and coach are confident he will be OK, according to the reports. Dom needs to play to order to get back in it. I expect a huge game on Saturday. If he can bounce back, it will be one indication that Dom is still Dom. Normally, he comes back and plays out of his head after a bad outing. Of course, the Wings will need to show up, too. No bowling or partying with Kid Rock the night before, please. Hope Ozzie feels better soon.

I remember that, too. Couldn't find a reference or link, but I know I heard him say that, as well. I can't remember his explanation, though. I think it was maybe in the tribute show when he had his number retired...

I believe you're very gifted, Eva. I admire your abilities. Thanks for sharing! looooooo

whoa? I have a Dom one that keep dropping his stick... but that just makes it more lifelike, I guess.

There really was only one Vladdy. And there is but one Eva Unit Zero too... your knowledge of stats really is amazing. My brother is an actuary, and I think he would be in awe of you!

I have his McFarlane figurine... ebay? anyone? That Hart/Vezina thing is harder to repeat than one would think, eh?

well, that old dog has a lot of tricks, it's true. It's been his livelihood, and he's managed to make a pretty good career of it. Just in a slightly off-kilter fashion, compared to more traditional goalies who may be as good, technically, in most situations. Dom's a character. Plain and simple, he is who he is. There aren't many left in the game in goal. I like the savant flair about Hasek, in particular, and how it meshes with his skills. You just don't get where he is by being a showboater, it is just his way. What can I say? out of curiousity, Eva, where would you put Jose Theodore in the above list? Over rated? Product of good defense? Flash in the pan? Victim of circumstances?

That's just Dom's style. He says no one taught him to play goal, he taught himself. No kidding, right? If you watch carefully, he's made many saves that are so subtle and fast, the announcers don't even see them or remark on it - the puck just stays out, somehow. Some of the saves on the gazillion highlight reel clips are logic-defying. Just because no one else is capable of playing like Dom doesn't mean much; it just means there's no one else who can do it. Media types love to say Dom's never in positiion, but he actually usually is. He just might happen to be upside down at the time. Dom didn't earn all the accolades he's won in the NHL by being flashy and shallow. Razzle dazzle is just part of the package, and I can't agree that it accomplishes nothing. It's part and parcel of what baffled some of the best players in the world for a decade or so. It's what filled the seats in Buffalo for many years. Dom's exciting to watch. So was Roy, much as I disliked him personally. As OS said, they've got the numbers to go along with the show. I like unique and exciting! Who doesn't? Besides some Wings fans, I mean.

I tend to agree with you... but then again, I am not that interested in the entire affair. It was cool years ago when real all-star players were there, but now it's just PR. Which is OK, I guess. Anyway, when has the NHL been accused of being honest and forthright in just about anything, lately? This would be no exception.

I can't stand Roenick, but in his defense, Roman Cechmanek was incredible in his rookie season in the NHL, as you said. In his first season with the Flyers, Cech took Brian Boucher's starting job, played in the NHL All-Star Game, and I believe was a runner up for Vezina, losing out to Dom. It didn't go so well after that, but a) he played for the Flyers, who were terrible in front of him and b) it's harder than it looks to sustain that level of performance. Not too many goalies have been able to do that in the NHL. Packer: do you remember the 8-0 blowout game when Buffalo took Phiily out of the playoffs? I have that on videotape somewhere. Priceless! It was almost as good as the 7-0 Wings' drubbing of the Avs, except I liked Cechie, and didn't like Waahhh.

seriously, OS? Cool!

dang, OS, at least you admit you're biased. That is more than most would do. 2002 was a concerted, planned effort to win the Cup, there's little doubt about that. Winning the Cup is money in the Red Wings' organizations' pockets, so that gamble paid off big. In my mind, buying players would mean they were paid more than they were worth, which they were not, relative to the pre-cap times. The players were in on it, at any rate, as I recall. Hasek played for half of what he was contracted for in Buffalo, even though I don't know that the team had the money or could have afforded the last year of his contract anyway. Stevie, Shanny, and I believe a couple of other guys actually gave up salary to get Hull on board. I guess we'd have to blame the players for stacking their own roster, then. But it sure was fun to watch. At least for me, it was. Taking nothing away from the 97 team, of course. Different times, different circumstances.

I think you'd better duck and cover, son. They're not buying that one here. But you're right, of course.

Good grief. Yes, I think he might get voted in. The voting fan base as a whole (not just Red Wings fans) may recognize the fact that at this point in the season, we might not be seeing how Hasek will performing between now and January. He might tank, or he might recover his form. If the voting ended today, Ozzie is playing better, and if people vote on that basis, then I can see Ozzie getting a ton of votes. Do you think Ozzie has the drawing power to be a write-in winner?

apparently, someone involved in the ballot selection thought so. Hasek did play well enough last season so maybe that was the basis for the nomination on the ballot? He was passed over in favor of Turco. Again, I was glad Dom didn't go, and don't mind if he doesn't get chosen this year either. What players deserve and what they end up with often isn't fair or right, but there you have it.

don't know, and don't really care, Toby, if Dom gets voted in or not personally. Someone was saying that the coaches have some sway on alternates and such, so I was just saying that if Babs was behind the bench, Ozzie might have a better shot.

who appoints/selects the coaches? If Babs is coach for the West, Ozzie will be there. If not, I don't think the Wings are popular enough (nothing to do with Ozzie) for there to be enough votes alone to get him in there. Quite frankly, I think there is enough dislike and jealousy amongst non-Wing fans, they will vote for anyone besides a Red Wing. Fans being as they are, will vote for a "name" they see a lot in media over talent and deserving to be there, skillwise. It certainly happened last time... I hope if Dom does get voted in (and I think he probably will), he can somehow hand it over to Ozzie. I don't want either of them going, since I think the whole show is an invitation to needless injury, but I know you all want to see Chris there, so I hope Ozzie gets the nod.