gcom007

What's most amazing to me is that he does so without being a complete weirdo. He just seems too normal to be a great goalie. It's really bizarre. I mean, I appreciate it, but it's still bizarre.

62...umm, I think there's a scary good chance with both our goalies playing well. We've continued to win through injuries to key players...as we get them back, heaven help other teams...it is a bit scary. You've got to think a slump will come sometime, but their system is so deep that if one area drops out, another area steps up and they keep finding ways to win games. I'm still a bit worried about the playoffs though...another gritty guy would be nice up front and in back...

Love it.

Oh come on now...you want us to forget about Hasek's November. What about Osgood's? Clutch. Clutch. Clutch. Stolen games. Once more, stolen games.

Damn, saw that coming...gotta get that puck out...

No joke...games like tonight's get boring. Jeez, another goal...I was just typing this isn't as bad as some of those "street hockey" games we've played the last month and a half or so, but eh, maybe it is...one sided games just bore me. I love winning but I love close games!

But does that change the fact that Osgood's played as well as he has? The team hasn't shown up on nights with him in net as well. It goes both ways. Even if Hasek hadn't had some of those ugly games (no matter whether or not anyone thinks he was a part of the problem or just a bystander...) Osgood's still done his thing. The record doesn't lie. The stats don't lie. The general impression of his play by fans, writers, coaches, teammates, etc. alike don't lie. That's what I'm getting at. I don't know about others, but I've put Hasek's November out of my mind as I believe he's improved and steadied out quite a bit. But Osgood's play still raises a huge question mark heading into the playoffs.

It is a bit disappointing that we're not facing a full-tilt Dallas team. It'd be nice to have that test at this point plus it just makes for better games. It's been a bit "bleh" for my taste...

Here's where I say that I don't buy this argument anymore simply b/c Dom's played plenty well enough to win most every game he's been in during the last month. This shouldn't be an excuse for the team. I don't think it has anything to do with the goalies at this point, it's just sometimes teams have off nights and we've got a lot more young and inexperienced players than people remember at times.

It doesn't really address the question though. I wasn't knocking Hasek and gave him his props. The statement was a bit irrelevant as I certainly wasn't saying Hasek sucks or Hasek shouldn't start b/c of that last game. He let in one goal. You can't complain about that. I ain't hating. This isn't about Dom playing bad so much as Osgood playing like one of the best goalies in the league this year without a doubt.

You know, I sit down to watch a game and I expect the goalie to let in one goal that they should stop. You know, it's great when they don't, but I don't really hold it against them either unless it's just incredibly ugly. But you know, no one's perfect so I give goalies their ugly grace goal you might say. That said, I don't get too bent out of shape about Hasek's softer goals. Sure, you'd wish he'd stop them but generally he's been playing well enough to win which is fine by me. At this point, if Osgood's on another team and it's Howard and Hasek for example, I don't have many qualms going in with Hasek. I've got more than I did in 2002 and even last year, but I think if he plays like he has in the last month, he gives the team a chance to win. But then there's Osgood who is on the team and is playing as flawlessly as can be expected with all the numbers, the record and the overall great play there to back that statement up. He's just been great and nothing short of that. It's no fluke and furthermore, in those games where the team doesn't show up, Osgood has still found a way to win the vast majority of the time. He's playing great, getting the bounces he needs and stealing games when he has to in order to put up his numbers and record. So what on earth do you do if the playoffs were starting tomorrow? Like you said, with no "name" biases you go with Osgood but it's just not that simple. It's definitely a good problem to have and hey, we scored!

This would be an example of one of those times where your biases detract from the legitimacy of your statements.

As far as I can tell from the outside this is the case and I agree with it all. I really hope he sticks around Cup or not. Something about him...he just looks like a Red Wings coach.

I am not trying to start another goalie war...it's all been gone through enough. I just want to know...even if Hasek keeps playing as well as he has which has been solid, do you think he'd really get the start over Osgood given how absurdly well Osgood just keeps playing? I don't even know what to say right now. Everyone knows I've been a fan of Ozzie for awhile, but as I've said, I've never been like the "Ozzie fanboy" type. I just always thought he was great at what he did and I thought he was capable of starting any year we've had him. But goodness gracious, this year it's just unreal. Yes, he's on a great team, but his play is still just flawless...say he ends the season at the top of the stats charts with as great of a record as he's had and he's nominated for the Vezina, do you think they'd still start Hasek? Again, I'm really not trying to start a war or ugly debate. I'm just really curious what people think at this point now that it's '08 and he's only showing signs of getting better and better. If the season ended today, despite the fact that Dom's got that name and he's improved a lot this year, I just can't see how they could start him over Osgood. Not knocking Dom, it's just Osgood's been outstanding...don't know what else to say...

I read somewhere recently that Forsberg still may come back this year and that the Wings are frontrunners once again. I'll see if I can dig it up. It's probably bunk, but you know, it's in print, so it has a nano-smidge more credibility than our senseless speculative ramblings.

We didn't screw his pocketbook but we screwed him on the ice and in the room. Money isn't the end all be all. I know it to be an absolute fact that it was a tremendously difficult situation and decision for him at the time. While that may sound obvious, I say that mainly because it wasn't so much the money that was the holdup. Believe me, he's a pretty humble guy who was more than generous with his money. I know for a fact that he gave tremendous amounts of money away to various causes more or less anonymously. So maybe it's accurate that part of the reason he stayed was because he wanted the money, but let's just say it most likely wasn't for his own self-interest. I somewhat understand what you're saying, but I think you're really generalizing the issue here and letting the bottom line dollar amount rule the day. Bear in mind that Detroit made a contractual promise to him to pay him to play here for 3 years. So he brings his family here and they set down roots and get involved in the community because he's planning on being here for the long haul, and ultimately his outstanding play would've kept him here if not for all the drama in between. Then all of the sudden they bring in another guy and declare you expendable? I mean, cool. Sure, it's legal and that's life in hockey to some extent, but it was pretty low class all the same. He owed it to himself and to future players in a similar situation to stick it out. Why shouldn't Detroit have to own up to their promises? So in the future if we sign a guy and then get someone else and we decide he's better we just assume the other guy will let the contract slide? Oh sure! Makes loads of sense. That'd be great for the players. Like you said, you can't have it both ways. Management can't very well sign a guy and then just expect him to forget about his contract if they become dissatisfied with him. That's why management should think before they make stupid decisions like bringing Hasek back or signing people to 10 year deals. It goes both ways. So sure, we didn't screw him financially, but again, money is hardly the only factor in play here. All in all, he still got screwed.

Yeah, we definitely screwed him over on a number of levels as far as the game is concerned. I can't fathom where his head was in that second season after going through everything and then playing as well as he did in the playoffs only to get nowhere really because the team didn't show up. That must've been rough on so many levels. Unbelievable.

True dat across the board. Manny dug his own grave in this town and it couldn't have come sooner. I would've shipped him out well before he actually did leave. I also never would've started him in the playoffs EVER but I'll stop with my Manny ranting now...

P.S. I really hope they don't get impulsive with Babs if they don't win a Cup in the next couple of years. I'm no pro and I don't know the inside scoop on everything, but from my perspective, he's been a great coach and one that I'd like to see behind the Wings bench for a long time to come.

I don't think Babcock has a say in that sort of thing though I could be wrong. It's a shame because due to Lids, Zetts and Dats he probably won't go just b/c of team diversity issues. Who knows though...he certainly deserves it. Sure, he's playing in front of a great team and some nights he has to do little work, but so has Hasek and he hasn't put up close to the same kind of numbers or record as Osgood has this year. I'm not trying to knock Hasek by saying that, but it illustrates just how great Osgood has been this year. Osgood hasn't had a bad game and has basically done his job flawlessly. I think that's the biggest thing. I really don't think he's played a single bad game and there's been so very few goals he's let in that he should've had. Again, he's been as flawless as can be reasonably expected this year. I've always thought higher of him than most around here but even I'm surprised and impressed by his exceedingly great play this year and he just doesn't seem like he's doing anything but continuing to turn it up. It's going to be tough to ignore one of the most talked-about players of the season with the best record and as of now best GAA and SV%. Here's hoping they give credit where credit's due. The All Star game may mean nothing in the grand scheme of things, but it would be a huge honor and worthy nod for Osgood at this point in his career.

Cujo was a good guy and nothing short of a clutch performer for us in the playoffs. He was just about the only guy to show up on the team in his two playoff years with us. It's rough being a goalie. Even when you play well against all odds (that second year...) it's still so easy to get that "loser" stigma attached to you that's so hard to shake.

I really enjoyed that. Great to see Flip getting the credit he deserves. He's really stepped up this year and made a big impact. Can't imagine it doing anything but getting better from here. I predict a great playoffs from him. Honestly, I think he'll be just a hair behind Dats and Zetts in scoring and impact down the stretch in the playoffs. Call it a hunch.

Given Osgood's typical passive and well, humorous nature, one might be lead to think that he's just along for the ride. But he's always talking about those numbers he wants to reach which I think is great. I don't think it's wrong or selfish at all to have goals in life and these goals are the reason he's worked so hard to up his game so he could play as well as he has. He's got the best record, the best GAA and the best Sv% right now. He's obviously got a lot of character to be putting up those numbers b/c most goalies wouldn't work hard enough to be able to play that well now and furthermore, he does it all with more grace and ease than just about anyone. His attitude, goals, work ethic and numbers are really forcing the hockey world over to drop there act, as in... "What long goals?"

The potential here is that he knows that he's got to give it everything he's got to even have a prayer at a comeback. It could hit the wall, but if he can stay healthy and work harder than he knows he has to, there could be a big upside for the Wings...his passion and leadership would be huge without a doubt. If he could get his game up enough to play with grit just through the playoffs, he could be a real difference maker. This is more likely to end up as nothing more than a minor league thing, but you just never know...who would've thought Joe Kocur would come in and do what he did from the beer leagues?

This outing should put Osgood in the lead for GAA and now SV% within a day or so. Not a huge deal, but considering it's getting closer and closer to the All Star game, it'll help his cause if he's got the league lead in GAA, SV%, a couple shut outs and the best record in the league for all intents and purposes. Tough to ignore all that...