Outsider

The original question was: To which Pavel Hossyukstrom replied: So, clearly, it WAS about the Play Offs. And as has been shown, Osgood is Brodeur's equal, in all categories, when it comes to Play Off performance.

The question WAS regarding the Post Season, wasn't it? I do believe it was. That being the case.... Martin Brodeur 176 GP 98W 78L 23 SO Winning %: 56% Shut Out %: 13% GAA: 1.98 SVP: .922 Chris Osgood 129 GP 74W 49L 15 SO Winning %: 57% Shut Out %: 12% GAA: 2.09 SVP: .919 Now, no one is arguing that Brodeur isn't the superior goaltender. But when you take a look at the Post Season stats, Osgood stacks up almost identically, in EVERY SINGLE CATEGORY. Even with Brodeur playing every PO Game he's ever appeared in with the Devils, and Osgood spending three years of his career playing behind TERRIBLE Isles and Blues Teams in the PO's.

All I'm saying is that the same exact guy, said the same exact thing, last year. Only he said it about Ty Conklin.

because I refuse to use the annoying little smilie bastards.... <rolls eyes> I wouldn't quite call this an "article". Sean Allen is the FANTASY HOCKEY guy at ESPN, for Pete's sake. <sheesh>

Also needs to be mentioned that Howard has faced a spate of bottom feeders, whereas Osgood has faced mostly Play Off Teams. A bit more info for the Stat Junkies: Of Howard's 14 Decisions Play Off Teams faced - 3 (DAL (x2) #13; COL #8; ATL #14) Games played vs Play Off Teams - 4 Wins vs Play Off Teams - 1 Points against Play Off Teams - 2/8 % Games against Play Off Teams - 29% (4/14) (none ranked higher than 8th) Points: 2 % Games against bottom feeders - 71% (10/14) (none ranked higher than 18th) Points: 15 Of Osgood's 15 Decisions Play Off Teams faced - 11 (SAN #1; WAS #2; CHI #4, CGY (x2), #5; BOS #6, NJ #7, COL #8, LOS #9, PHO #10, BUF, #11, NSH #12) Games played vs Play Off Teams - 12 Wins vs Play Off Teams - 6 Points against Play Off Teams - 15/24 % Games against Play Off Teams - 80% (12/15) (9 of the Top 10, #11 & #12) Points: 15 % Games against bottom feeders - 20% (3/15) (#22, #27, #29) Points: 1 Thus far this Season, the Wings have faced 9 of the Top 10 Teams in the League. Osgood has been in net for ALL of those Games, (twice against Calgary). He's garnered 15/20 points from those Top 10 Teams.

By actually watching the Games, rather than the Stat lines. Look..... When Ozzie got sick with the flu, Howard was posting WORSE numbers than Osgood. He got a few Starts in while Oz was sick, and improved his numbers. He's gotten 10 starts of the past 14. Osgood has had four Starts, and NO occasions where he's played two Games in a row. Howard was playing WORSE than Osgood, UNTIL he got the chance to get in there a few Games in a row and actually get settled in. Once again, Osgood hasn't had that opportunity.

Wow. Talk about "Ye of short memory". Ummmm..... MAF was a First Overall draft pick who was projected to be an elite "Franchise Goaltender" at the NHL level from the time he was about 13-14 years old. And Dominik Hasek was a dominating force in the Czech League long, long, LONG before he was drafted, let alone played in his "rookie year".

Oz is not playing poorly. He let in one questionable goal against Jersey. Other than that, he was fine. He was fine against Calgary, (and was hung out to dry by his team both offensively AND defensively), and he was fine against Nashville. Again, Chris is not playing poorly. He's just not winning Games. Howard is. And that's all that really matters at this point. I have full faith in Ozzie. He's proven himself over and over again.

The Devils are 6-0 on the second night of back-to-backs this Season.

They'll stick with Jimmy. And they should. They're winning with him in net. Can NOT afford to lose games right now. Not a single one. They'll come right back with Howard against Edmonton on Thursday, (I think???). Count on it.

Now this is more like it. It's almost like watching Detroit Red Wings hockey again. Haven't seen that in awhile.

They've looked like the Red Wings. Excellent game, from puck drop to now....

Mike Ribiero is such a scumbag.

Howard is playing well, and the Wings, (as a Team), are playing better in front of him than they are in front of Osgood. In the month of November, Ozzie has started six games. The Wings have scored a total of 7 goals in those six games. They haven't scored more than 2 in front of him all month. Conversely, in the month of November, Howard has started seven games. The Wings have scored a total of 27 goals in those 7 games. They've scored LESS THAN THREE goals in front of him only twice of those 7 games. They've got 2 already tonight. In Osgood's last seven games, he's allowed 15 goals. In Howards last seven games, he's allowed 16 goals. But Howie is winning games. Period. And with their current position in the standings, that is ALL that matters. He'll stay in nets as long as he's winning.

Gained a point on the 'Hawks, too. Tonight was a pretty good night, as it turns out.

Phew. Hopefully a step in the right direction. Now....GO KINGS, GO!!!

A point. A point. How pathetic is it that I'm THRILLED that they've earned a POINT against the St. Louis Blues? How the mighty have fallen.

DATS!!! TIED AGAIN!

YES! Drapes!

Also rather annoying to listen to Ken and Larry talk about how "well" the Wings have played the last little while, how they've "dominated". Horse puckey. They've thrown 30+ useless shot at the opposing goaltender night after ni.... SCORES!!! Finally!

The goaltending has "looked good" in a number of "down by a goal or two after one period" games this season. If they can't score, it doesn't really matter HOW GOOD the goaltending "looks". Frustrating early Season. And CBS is up by 2-1 over CGY. <sigh> Oh.....make that 3-1. Sinking further and further......

Ayup. Definitely alllllll about the goaltending. <sigh> I think someone needs to remind these guys that they really DO know how to play this game. They look like you couldn't PAY them to care less.

Not for nothin', but in the last SIX games that Osgood has played, the Wings have scored SEVEN goals. That's right....SEVEN. That averaged out to an average of 1.17 GPG. And Oz has still managed to pull out FIVE points of a possible twelve, when his Team hasn't scored more than TWO goals in ANY of his past six Starts. Conversely? In Howard's last six games, the Wings have scored TWENTY THREE goals. Yep....Twenty three. That's an average of 3.83 GPG. Quite a difference. There have been only TWO of Howard's last six Games where the Team in front of him scored LESS THAN THREE. How many points did they earn in those two games? ZERO. Ozzie hasn't been as sharp has he SHOULD be, but he's FAR from the problem.

Ya know...I figured it'd be a colder day in Hell than THIS when I'd be hoping that the Detroit Red Wings could score just TWO goals against NASHVILLE....so they could pull even in the standings with...... COLUMBUS. Blerrrrrch..... Pardon me while I go vomit.

Oz fell asleep on goals 1 and 2 against tonight. Plain and simple. He's gotta be better than that. And he will be. I don't doubt that.