gcom007

Plenty of people said before that Osgood should start and definitely in retrospect people were saying it, but I wasn't really arguing anyways, I was just thinking about it at the time and thought I'd post it.

While I think you're a lot more optimistic than I could be about Hasek playing better if he gets a chance, I think it's definitely fair to say that he's handled this year in a lot classier manner than most might've expected. But, I think it's pretty dumb of him to make the comments he did. We're not done yet and say Osgood plays well but he gets injured and we have to go back to Hasek, comments like that don't exactly instill confidence in the team. "Oh great, we get to go back to the goalie who's playing the worst hockey in his career..." It's like Legace all over again. I totally understand he's frustrated, but he pretty much admitted defeat with those comments. Hell, half of me wonders if Babcock wouldn't have started Hasek in Game 5 if he had a better attitude. Your goalie's a backbone and he's given up backbreakers and is saying that he's never played worse in his life. That's just no good...

You know, even in retrospect, I think you've gotta start Dom in Game 4. You've gotta give him the chance. I think he and everyone needed to see that. When you make a change like this, you gotta be able to do it with some confidence and you do it after Game 3 and the second Osgood lets in a weaker goal (it'll happen, it happens to everyone) you'd be wondering if Hasek should be the guy. You had to give him the chance to prove either that he could do it or he couldn't. I think that's a lot more important than people realize.

Listen, I'm as big of a proponent of Hasek being out as anyone, but it has hardly all been him and the team has hardly looked like a Stanley Cup team. Has Hasek helped? Not much. In fact, he's really hurt things at times and that's why they're making a switch. The goalies the backbone and he's been shaky and that simply doesn't help the team, but at the same time, there's been plenty of problems in the play of the skaters. If they don't play better, it won't matter if Osgood plays great. We won't go far. But if Osgood plays well, it'll give everyone confidence and something to build on and hopefully he doesn't give up the back-breaking goals that Hasek's given up.

1) I think so. I don't think anyone's going to say it because you don't want to bury Hasek any more than he already is, but if Osgood plays well moving forward, they're not going to take a chance on Hasek again. 2) Well, probably not, but if that happens in this series, what does it matter? I think it's inevitable if we move forward and even if we win the Cup that we'll have a couple games that are ugly in the other teams favor. That happens. When it happens is critical. If Osgood gets us out of this series and we go in strong in the 2nd and it happens halfway through, Osgood's still the guy because like I said, games like that happen. When there's 8 teams left, there are going to be battles. More so when 4 are left. When this crap happens all regular season and then the first 4 games against Nashville yields play like Hasek's, you're done. If Osgood wins this series, he's the man. I just don't think this is a case of "it's his to lose" anymore. I think he earned the start right off the bat and didn't get it, but it became Hasek's job to lose and he lost it.

From my thread that got deleted... This is the right move and I think it's quite clear that it'll help, but it's not going to solve everything. They need to keep that momentum from the 3rd period going and keep that D tight. And honestly, Hasek has not totally sucked despite how it may feel right now. This doesn't need to turn into a bashing thread. Like him or not, he may've played his last game and it's sad that he would have to go out like that. He's accomplished a ton in his career and he deserves a bit of respect for what he's achieved. That doesn't mean you negate justified criticism and I don't think he should be starting, but you know, keep it civil. He's still got a Winged wheel on the front of his jersey in the next game. If this is it for Hasek, let's just try to show him respect by letting the bashing go now and focusing on moving ahead. Because again, like him or not, he's had a hell of a career and it's a shame that anyone has to go out like this, but that's life and he'll grow from this as a person when it all shakes down.

What's wrong? Heaven knows, but he needs to have a big Game 5.

It's so weird to think he was on our team...it just seems so bizarre...

Just wow...wow...I couldn't disagree more with just about everything you said and it's one of those instances where it's just not even worth arguing. I think most people are logical enough to not pay this senseless array of thought much mind.

I don't agree really. He made that Bertuzzi move which was a little ballsy and I think he learned a lesson and wasn't about to pull the same thing this year unless it was all perfectly gift-wrapped and pretty. It may be hard to watch as a fan in the short run but it makes a lot more sense in the long run. I think next year or two years from now it'll become more evident how well he's working in the cap system. Like I said, this is still the learning curve and there are going to be mistakes and things that seemingly don't make sense, but he's made a lot of great moves too along the way. This summer will be an interesting one to watch...

And it's just that simple? No. Especially with Federov, they were not about to ship him off to us let alone for as cheap as he ultimately was when they're in our division. This was blatantly obvious based on quotes from both sides leading up to during, and after the trade deadline. This isn't NHL 2008 on X-Box. And the money? I think he learned a lesson. Everyone's still feeling out this cap era. It's new. Can you call it a mistake? Sure. But how many other teams have made mistakes? Oh yeah, clever, I know. He's generally done a good job at putting together solid teams and you have to give him credit for being smart enough to make sure he has good people around that he listens to. Just the fact that he's got Yzerman or Bowman whispering in his ear does not automatically mean he's not so good at his job. I'd say it makes him better. He's still the GM and again, he's wise enough to make sure he's working with these great minds like a team. There's a lot of good hockey people steering the ship and he's the figurehead of the management. That's not bad, it just is what it is. He could do infinitely worse. Look at the deals he's gotten done for Holmstrom and Cleary. That's good stuff...bah...whatever, just don't approach this topic in such a narrow minded manner. There's so much more to it than any of us realize and he's done a great job any way you shake it. In the context of the league, you can't argue with his success.

Well, they said Osgood in Game 5 about 100 times. Team looked a lot better in the 3rd. Ellis has been good but is beatable, yada yada yada...basically, Osgood better start and Nashville better look out in Game 5.

No.

Unnecessary. Prepare to be merged or deleted.

"Timely saves. Timely goals." -Larry Murphy Osgood in Game 5 "I'll bet your life John..." "If Osgood gets on a role, I don't know if we'll see Dom again..." -Ken Daniels Man...

Ozzie in Game 5. 3 game series now. I think we learned something important today though. It's 2-2. Nothing to panic about after that 3rd. We play a whole game like that, and we will the next game, it's over in 6. This is by far the best they looked in months. Now they know they can do it. Look out.

I want to see a San Jose victory!!!

It's unreal that we haven't scored more goals off these rebounds.

We're playing much more poised hockey here. So refreshing to see....

I think it's taken a year or so off my life...

If we come back, it definitely won't because we had calls in our favor, that's for sure...

What's a normal heart rate?

LINE 2 COMPLETE COMPLETE COMPLETE FOR ONCE!!!!!!!

One of these is gonna go in...man, exciting game!

My heart is racing like mad right now... I think we're tying this s*** it up right quick... And Osgood is making some big, big stops and quite the case for himself starting Game 5...