gcom007

Yeah. Thanks for going the extra mile. I was lazy. But I agree completely. I see Conklin these days and I mistake him for Legace. Although, Conklin's attitude and demeanor seem about 10X more tolerable then Legace's considering his self-aggrandizing and suicidal mood-swings...

That's what I keep saying...in 2009, Conklin and Osgood have played rather similarly and the numbers support that statement. I think Osgood can be better and I think he's on his way and will get there, but the D has been as bad if not worse. Actually, I think they've absolutely been worse. We could have Luongo and we wouldn't win the Cup with the D we've had. But again, I think things are on the up for this team.

Honestly, I would've loved to win this game because winning is fun and all, but I think there's been a great deal of improvement with the way this team as a whole has played lately. But they've played a lot too...I did my afternoon "briefing" on the game and I thought to myself, "ya know, we're probably not going to win tonight...it'll be a rough one..." And it was. I'm not pissed. Osgood still played well and the team's played well lately. Plenty of positives to take from this last week. If all this keeps up, once we're healthy and heading into the playoffs, we'll be ready to bring our A-Game. This team knows how to turn it up and win. I'm far less worried now than I was 2-3 weeks ago.

Hardly. Osgood isn't 43.

Ask any guy in that room if nothing changes between now and the end of the season who they'd rather have start for them. Take an anonymous vote even. You'll get all Osgood. I bet even Conklin would vote for Osgood! Conklin doesn't even have a full playoff game to his name!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even if Osgood blows it (and he certainly could) and you have to go with Conklin, you have to go with Osgood to start. Same went for Hasek last year. I thought Osgood was the better goalie all year and Hasek was washed up, but I couldn't argue with giving Hasek his chance to get going and starting him in the playoffs because when he's at his best, he's the best option. Now, his age I think ultimately was too much for him to overcome, you've still got to give him the chance. You're just idiotic to think otherwise.

Babcock: "I thought Osgood played real good." "I thought Ozzie's been good two games in a row for us. I thought he gave us a chance tonight and that's real important for your goalie to do." "We're real comfortable with how they're both playing at the moment."

I'm not even much of an "Ozzie Lover" but if anyone honestly thinks we're better off going with someone like Conklin in the playoffs, then y'all deserve Legace again. Since he's done so much for us and all...and for the Blues...where's he now??? You've got to give Osgood every chance to get going because he's the best option. 2 Cups. Tons of playoff games. It's like this: we will not win the playoffs with Conklin. We might not win with Osgood. We might win with Osgood. But you can't win every year. Even the best goalies, at least last time I checked, I suppose history could change and all, but yeah, the best goalies ever...I don't think they won the Cup every year, no? This is all just silly. A waste of an argument. And again, Osgood played fine tonight. Last two games I have no complaints. I do not ***** about goalies letting in 1 goal they should've had. I give goalies one of those every game. The other goals were out of his hands and he played great otherwise. As all the broadcasters said, Osgood made some great saves and gave the Wings every reasonable chance to win. Oh, look at that! Osgood: player of the game. Some of y'all are just plain stupid. Seriously. Grow up.

Yeah, you morons have been reciting the same lines since '93. 2 Cups later................................

The haters have the attention span of ADHD 2nd graders. I'll sweat this after a couple playoff games. Not now.

Then the level of ignorance of these people will be blatantly obvious...

Have you been watching the game?

BOOM! I'll take it.

I think we'll win this in a SO. Not how I like to win, but I think we'll tie it up and Dats + 1 will win it in a shootout.

Murphy cracked me up with those kids. It was like going back to my childhood. But my coaches were even meaner...

I guess this game is summed up for me by the fact that I'm just hoping we don't give up another breakaway on the power play again.

Whose powerplay is it again??????

Datsyuk's alright, but how many goals did Crosby score today?

DATSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSYUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awwww...we're the best. I thought that everyone wanted to be in Pittsburgh with Cindy?

THAT'S RIGHT! KILL CROSBY!!!!!!!!!

I really really hope Holland gets a Hossa deal done fast. And they just talked about my high school! Good old SCS with our "famous" alumni Brian Rafalski.

HOSSA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Like for realsies???

Man I love Maltby when he does what he does best. I hope it's not over between he and Cindy...

While I don't want to go over the top here, I've been watching Kirk Maltby as this seasons gone on and lately it seems like there's been a bit of a spark to his play. It's a spark that in some ways he's been lacking since returning from the lockout. But lately, especially the last few games, it seems like something's up to me. He's reminding me more of the pre-lockout Maltby who was good for 10-15 goals a year playing minimal minutes on the 4th line while logging a lot of time on the PK as well. Maltby had an intensity and almost a cockiness to him then that kept him grinding and agitating and he had the speed and hands to make the most of opportunities when he got them. In the Babcock system, I feel like he was overlooked right off the bat. He hasn't really had the chance to prove himself in the Babcock system as he hasn't gotten the number and quality of minutes he was getting under Bowman and Lewis. I remember at first thinking, "What happened to Maltby? He used to be more effective out there." Then I immediately realized, "Oh yeah, he's barely getting any ice time." Since then I've always wondered if the old Maltby that could mix it up and post solid 4th line numbers was still in there somewhere. It was just hard for me to imagine that missing a single season due to the lockout could render him as ineffective as he had seemingly become in the Babcock era. I think he may be starting to come around. He's looked good lately, and if that line continues to play well, they'll get more minutes especially with injuries mounting up. I think his confidence is on the rise as well. Again, he's reminding me more of the Maltby from the Bowman era who was not only great to have on the ice for the sake of the team, but was also entertaining to watch as a fan. He's playing harder on the puck and looking a little cockier again. He's been making plays lately leading to goals. Even today, the 4th line was a standout line. I've got a good feeling we'll see good things coming from Kirk Maltby as this season winds down. Last year I was saying Franzen was going to surprise us and come up big and he came up real big and obviously this is a smaller thing than that, but I won't be shocked if Maltby finishes this season with 10-15 goals and goes on to have a strong 5-10 goal playoff run if the team gets it together and goes far. I really do think he's getting that spark back and I don't think for a second that Babcock's going to be hesitant to give him the opportunity to build a fire the way this season's gone. If the fire gets going, it's going to be a fun spring.