gcom007

I'm shocked that Drew Sharp seems so objective about this. This is like 2-3 articles in a row that I've read from him that seem to be demonstrating objectivity and a rational thought process. I'm shocked... http://www.freep.com/article/20090207/COL0...t+in+blame+game "Osgood easy target in blame game BY DREW SHARP • FREE PRESS COLUMNIST • February 7, 2009 It's not all Chris Osgood's fault. It's just easier blaming him for the Red Wings' defensive lethargy because it can't be February in this city without some concern regarding their goaltending. Advertisement "It doesn't change," Osgood said Friday. "It's like checkup time. It's like a doctor's appointment every year in February. You think something might be wrong, and then you realize that everything is fine and the doctor tells you not to worry about the small stuff." The "small stuff" is Osgood's worst statistical season of his NHL career. That he's allowing more soft goals than many can tolerate is nothing new. That has defined his time in Detroit as much as the two Stanley Cups in which he was the No. 1 man between the pipes. "It's a good lesson," he said of his challenges this season. "Whoever thought that at 36, you're still learning stuff and figuring stuff out?" I don't believe there has ever been a Detroit athlete during my lifetime who inspires such dramatic swings in opinion. For everyone who adamantly stamps Osgood as an automatic Hall of Famer -- mentioned in the same breath as Patrick Roy, Martin Brodeur and Dominik Hasek -- there's another who views his career path as divinely blessed for spending the bulk of it with a franchise that hides his deficiencies by surrounding him with supreme talent. There's validity to both arguments. But it's pointless worrying about whether or not Osgood can return to the form that made him the No. 1 goalie in the first round of last year's playoffs against Nashville. There's nothing the Wings can do. Salary-cap restrictions render the possibility of landing a star at the trading deadline almost impossible. And though Ty Conklin often has looked impenetrable, the Wings cannot voluntarily opt for a guy who has started one playoff game when failure to reach the Stanley Cup finals assumes disastrous proportions for this organization. It's Ozzie or bust. It's time for everyone to simply chill and look at the Wings' "problems" with a measure of perspective. They're struggling relative to their expectations. They're not stopping opponents. They're surrendering more shots on goal than a year ago. It has affected Osgood, who currently ranks 42nd in goals-against average, and his save percentage (.880) is one of the worst in the NHL. Those numbers jump out at you, but the Wings' defensive issues are a collective letdown. Their penalty kill ranks 27th in the league, just three spots from the bottom. The forwards aren't back-checking as furiously as a year ago. They aren't hounding the puck with their prior zeal. They aren't as physically resilient as a year ago. The normally indestructible Tomas Holmstrom fought through a sports hernia last year, but now he needs surgery again and could miss as much as five weeks. It's not just Osgood getting tested. Everybody needs to step it up to another level. "I know how to win playoff games," Osgood said. "That's all that should matter." He's right, but it's impossible matching last year's hunger. There was the motivation in proving ridiculous the Canadian-induced prejudice that a European-dominated team couldn't endure the physical and mental sacrifices necessary to win the Stanley Cup. Mike Babcock called out Osgood's struggles recently, but he thinks the media has made a big deal out of nothing. "That's over with," Osgood said. "You move on. You guys do all that stuff that doesn't matter anymore. What matters is the next 30 games and the playoffs. ... You've got to put it in perspective. "Let's be honest. What's the track record of teams that went to the finals the last five years? A lot of those teams haven't made the playoffs (the next year). We should be pretty proud of what we've done up to this point." He's right, but it doesn't change reality. Standards are extraordinarily high here -- maybe unrealistically high -- and no one can stop regular-season boredom from morphing into playoff paranoia."

If Osgood had played this exact game in the exact manner Conklin did, he'd be crucified once again by now.

Wow. That's unreal. That's just embarrassing.

If Osgood was in net, everyone would be saying that he should've stopped them. Take that any way you'd like....

Just waiting for them to get the 4th now...

So Mike Babcock looks happy.

No. I really woudln't call that kicking motion. And it hit his stick after anyways, hence the goal. I knew this would happen. I hoped it wouldn't, but I knew they'd let up.

Talk about how much it must suck to be an Oilers fan lately...it's one thing to not win all the time, it's another thing to get utterly slaughtered every 5-6 games...

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/02/ho..._osgoods_s.html "Ken Holland won't trade Chris Osgood to upgrade goaltending Posted by George James Malik February 05, 2009 18:41PM Categories: Top Sports Red Wings GM Ken Holland spoke to the Windsor Star's Dave Waddell regarding both Detroit coach Mike Babcock's criticism of Chris Osgood's play of late, 5-4 win over Phoenix included, and the status of his somewhat shaky goaltending tandem in light of the trade deadline's a-month-away status: February 5, Windsor Star: "Obviously, his game isn't where it was last year, the statistics bear that out," Holland said Thursday. "We know we got to get him on top of his game. Since mid-December our defence has been better. Penalty-killing is a source of concern, so is Chris Osgood. He hasn't put 60 minutes together. I think there's been mental lapses. I can (attribute) that to the Stanley Cup hangover. We need Chris to get his game back to where it was last year, and now." Osgood admits his focus hasn't been up to standards. He owns the worst numbers (3.29 GAA, .880 save percentage) of any starting goalie in the NHL. ... The native of Peace River, Alta., has allowed three or more goals in seven straight games and in 20 of his 28 starts. He also continues to allow soft goals on a frequent basis. In comparison, backup Ty Conklin has allowed three or more goals in 13 of his 25 starts, has a 2.38 goals against average, a . 915 save percentage and five shutouts. "Conklin's been fine, Chris Osgood is not even close to where he was last year, but history has shown he's been able to raise his game," Holland said. "We'd like him to get there now. I think it's all mental." Holland says that he's simply not going to pursue a goaltender at the trade deadline: "I don't see us being active (in trade market)," Holland said. Despite his struggles, the one thing Osgood has continued to do is win games. He's won 17 of his starts and only has four losses in regulation time. "I'm not going to let it get to me," said Osgood, who is 20 victories short of becoming the 10th goalie in NHL history to record 400 wins. "I'm going to keep working hard in practice and doing all the right things to get myself where I want to be in the next two months." Start now, please."

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/02/ca...nt_shoulde.html " The Oakland Press's Pat Caputo believes that those who choose to merely point their fingers at Chris Osgood as the source of the Red Wings' shoddy defensive play don't take into account Detroit's team-wide defensive shortcomings: 'February 6, The Oakland Press: Red Wings coach Mike Babcock was critical of Chris Osgood following their win Wednesday over Phoenix, but their biggest issue isn't goaltending. They just have too many lapses in their own zone, and are not nearly as proficient at breaking out as they used to be. There have been too many giveaways. Also, the Red Wings' penalty-killing unit has been bad. It used to be their great strength. It's difficult to put a finger on the exact reasons why this is happening. Could be that Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby and Nicklas Lidstrom are slowing down. They are advancing in age. But I don't understand the breakdowns from players such as Niklas Kromwall and Brian Rafalski, who were so solid in those areas last season.' I don't buy the age argument. I buy the inability to close the eight-lane freeway to the net or stop teams from completing lateral passes across the seam between penalty-killing forwards and defenders... 'Osgood has played better the last couple months after a woefully slow start. His statistics aren't good, but he has been getting bombarded with a lot more scoring chances than in the past. That's a cause of the Red Wings' defensive play overall as much as on Osgood - especially when the Red Wings are short-handed.'"

http://www.freep.com/article/20090206/BLOG...n+t+played+well "While it drew a great deal of attention when Mike Babcock criticized Chris Osgood for allowing the two goals in the third period Wednesday, the two have talked and have moved on. Ty Conklin will start tomorrow against Edmonton, but that’s part of the normal rotation. Babcock wouldn’t say who’s in net Sunday at Pittsburgh, but it’ll probably be Conklin if he plays really well against the Oilers, and if not, then Osgood. Either way, Osgood is fine. “It’s over with, let’s move on,” Osgood said Friday when I asked him about Wednesday’s comments from Babcock. “You guys dwell on stuff that doesn’t matter any more. What matters is the next 30 games and the playoffs, what’s going to happen tomorrow, what’s going to happen against Pittsburgh. I know it’s you guys’ job, but to me, that doesn’t matter. Mike and I talk all the time. You guys make like we fight all the time. I won with Mike as my coach, he won with me as his goalie. You’ve got to put it in perspective here. What matters is what happens these next 30 games and the playoffs.” Babcock also was sanguine. “When you’re a coach, everyone in your room isn’t going to be in love with you every day, that’s the facts,” he said. “But I’m not looking for that. I’m just looking for him to be the best he can be. Do I think Chris Osgood is a phenomenal person? Absolutely. Do I think he’s a real good goalie? Absolutely. Do I think he’s been as good as he’s capable of being this year? Absolutely not. Do I expect more and does he expect more? Yes. Does he understand that? Yes. Now, does that make it warm and fuzzy every day? No, but I try to tell you is that over time, I think most people understand that. He knows I care about him, and he knows he’s a good goalie, and he knows we need him.” Osgood is 17-4-6 this season, but he's got a 3.29 goals-against average and .888 save percentage."

Conklin and Osgood have similar numbers in '09 since Osgood's returned. They both need to step up, no doubt, but they'll both do better when the D gets better. I still don't feel goaltending is near the issue it's made out to be on here. The team defense is filled with holes right now.

And this is shocking in no way, shape or form. He never should've been a starter. Some people need to accept who and what they are.

"Hossa open to re-signing with Wings" http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=514067 Obvious, but yeah, just thought I'd post it anyways.

Osgood's last time against them went better than Conklin's...did you get the goalies mixed up? Conklin gave up 5 and we lost last time we played Phoenix.

Suicide watch!!!

When he came back from injury and played some great games. Even the one's he let in a lot of goals. Like Dallas? Wasn't that the 5 goal game where the defense let them get multiple 2-0 breakaways in a row for goals? Look at Conklin's and Osgood's stats in '09 since Osgood's been healthy. They're not even remotely as lopsided as people are making them out to be. Even I was surprised.

Hmmm, Chris Osgood a difference maker? I'm sure some of you are having seizures over that one... I don't see how Osgood played such a horrible game tonight. 3 PPG scored on us? That first one was fluky. You hate to see it, but it's so fluky it's tough to flip out too much over it. The second goal you take or leave it. I'd like to see him stop it but it happens. 3rd goal, can't hold it against him. He played solid when it counted, held tough in OT, won in the shoot out and for all you stats hounds, he posted a solid Sv.% considering he let in 3 goals, 1 being really fluky. I think the end is something for Osgood to build on and carry into the next game.

Nice Hudler. Make your case even on the SO...

Is anyone still pissed at Osgood? Over this game at least?

Pardon my whimsical remarks. The whole thing was posted with a bit of silliness in mind. And even so, I think it's a fairly objective response when one suggests that we have to score 4+ goals a game to win.

I hate that this is going to OT and I hate that it will likely be decided by a SO. There are those ties in the regular season that used to sting worse than losses because you knew it was just pathetic. This should be one of those embarrassing ties.

Right there with Rafalski! He hasn't been near as bad as Kronwall in this regard, but you can't choke up the puck that close to the net. It's happened ALL THE TIME this year. Unbelievable...

Damn, quick, someone get Manny on suicide watch STAT!!!

Wow...... Well, we're not in Kansas anymore.....