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Obviously Babcock hasn't seen what he wants to see from Ozzie. When he sees it, he'll play him. End of story. Oz is just gonna have to work that much harder, that's all.

"Are we there yet?" "No." "Are we there yet?" "No." "Are we there yet?" "No." "Are we there yet?" "No." "Are we there yet?" "Are we there yet?" "Are we there yet?" "Are we there yet?" "Are we there yet?" "Are we there yet?Are we there yet?Are we there yet?Are we there yet?Are we there yet?"

People who are blaming the goalie are, as usual, looking solely at the number of goals against, rather than the Defensive play leading up to the goals against.

The goaltending was fine. It was the shoddy, lazy Defense which was the problem....

LOL.... Now you not only want to predict, project, and attribute Osgood's emotions, (He's apparently not angry enough for you....despite the thread title, and his obvious pissiness), but you ALSO want to deal in "what if" scenarios that may, or may NOT, occur in Games which are 5'ish months into the future? Are you kidding me?

I never said that. You're attributing comments to me that I never made. As an aside, as "horible, embarrassing, inexscuable" as that center ice goal was to you, it was a hundredfold moreso to Chris Osgood. He knows he has to play better. He's stated that he's working on it. What more would you like him to do? Excoriate himself at Center Ice, in front of a National TV audience, at the next home game? Again, he's not playing as well as he should be, and he's acknowledged that. So he HAS "answered for it", as well as he possibly can, OFF THE ICE. The only way for him to truly "answer for it", is for him to PLAY BETTER. In order for him to play better, he has to PLAY. While you apparently are foaming at the mouth to see Oz answer to the Press for his shortcomings, I prefer that he answer to himself, to his Teammates, and to his Coach. I have every confidence that he will. But the only place he can answer is ON THE ICE. Which is all I've said, despite your best efforts to make it appear otherwise. In response to your posting of the opinions and emotions that Bruce MacLeod so omnisciently attributed to Mike Babcock, after the game, I'll respond with Mike Babcock's own opinions and emotions, as espoused by MIKE BABCOCK, after the game: Detroit News: Osgood Has Coach's Trust "Just by his numbers, you know he knows how to win. But, to me, he's being way too hard on himself." "I'm very confident in the goaltending of our hockey club and that this will all work itself out." Or perhaps you'd prefer these comments, instead.... Detroit Free Press: Babcock Confident Osgood Will Get His Game Back "During the course of the year everything works itself out, and I don't think it's going to be an issue for us." "Ozzie cares, really cares," Babcock said. "I don't doubt that his pride is hurt a little bit right now, but that's what makes him good. There are some stages you go through, and one is you get mad at yourself, and then you buckle down and you get it looked after. He's too good to not be able to respond, and he will." Once again..... Relax.

For clarification, I never said that. Your comment was "Play better and no one will ask you difficult questions." The difficult questions to which you refer, those which are causing Oz to get "pissy", (as it were), were asked after practice.....yesterday. Again...for clarification purposes..... In order to "Play better...", he's going to have to play. Period. No two ways about it. Damn...you're right. I'd forgotten about that one. Remind me, please.... That blast from the neutral zone that blew by him like he wasn't even there was the game winning goal. Right? No? It must've counted for two goals against on the scoreboard, then. Oh... it didn't? Well then, surely the Wings lost Style Points in the standings? No? Well then, kindly advise as to how that goal had any more impact than any other goal scored that game. Other than for aesthetic purposes, of course. Because we all know how important those goals are. Right? After all, that flip in from center ice that Marty Brodeur knocked into his own net in the Stanely Cup Finals against Anaheim in 2003 is the goal that ended up costing New Jersey the Cup that year.... He hasn't played great. He also hasn't played as badly as his stats indicate. Three words: Scoreboard and Overall Record He'll get it turned around. Relax.

Sarcasm? Me? Perish the thought.... What is this sarcasm of which you speak?

Waaaaait a minute.....that sneaky little.... Has Oz been going behind everyone's back, playing Games while nobody's watching? No? You mean, he hasn't played in a Game since he gave up those 5 goals in the Win against the 'Nuckies? Oh. Well then.... Might want to give the guy a chance to "Play better" by actually, well....you know.... PLAYING ....before making that comment. Just a thought.

Firstly, allow me to ask you.... What "losses" is anyone pinning on Chris Osgood? The guy has lost one, ONE Game, in regulation all Season. I'm sure when you said "losses", what you really meant was "ridiculous number of goals against". I never said that these crappy 4 and 5 goal Games are all on Ozzie. Hell no. You won't find many Osgood supporters more staunch than I, YoungGuns. Unfortunately, I am also of the opinion that Osgood is a much, much better goaltender than hes' given credit for. I expect him to play well. Always. When he doesn't, it p!sses me off. As I'm sure it p!sses HIM off. I hope he's good and p!ssed right now. He should be. He's letting in goals that he has no business letting in. And I concur, wholeheartedly..... He doesn't look as confident as he should. What he needs is a couple of solid Games, where he faces some tough shots, and makes some tough saves. He needs to get that swagger back in his step. It'll happen. I have every confidence that he'll turn it around and get back to the way he SHOULD be playing. Hopefully sooner, rather than later. I think getting Cheli back will be huge. He's old. He's slow. And he's damned smart. Nick is the Wings' Defensive Spine. Cheli is the Wings' Defensive Conscience.

You're absolutely right. Kharma is a terrible mistress. There was a time when Oz probably wondered what he'd done to deserve being tossed aside, after all those years, all those Victories, after Winning the Cup, after giving everything he had to the Franchise he loved, the only Team he ever wanted to play for. Tossed aside.....For a rental.....a "one-and-done"..... Well, one-and-done, and then back out of retirement. And another starter tossed aside, humiliated, shoved onto a bus in the minors. Well....for 14 games anyway. And then on to another "Cup contender". Well....until the injury, that is....and then back again.....and so close, so very, very close..... <sigh> Yes. Kharma is a terrible mistress. That being the case, it's a good thing that while Oz will never, ever, be known as "the greatest goalie ever to play the game", he's known far and wide as a really, TRULY "good guy." By all accounts, if anything, Oz has got some serious GOOD kharma coming to him. Hopefully last year's Cup was only the beginning.

I expect the Defense to be much better with Cheli in the line-up. Snotty comments aside, Oz is struggling right now. He knows it, we know it, Jim Bedard knows it. It's a good thing that the Wings have the Offense, the mental fortitude, and the determination, to score as many goals as it takes to post an 11-1-4 record behind their Starter, who just happens to be struggling in December. Hopefully Oz picks his Game up soon, so they don't have to worry about going into the Post Season watching their Starter give up one, two, even three goals, within seconds of each other, when the games REALLY matter. That would SUCK!

It was Dom himself who claimed that the "different equipment" he used in practice at the Olympics is what caused the injury. Some here have opined that the fact that Osgood is practicing exclusively wearing new equipment, made by a different manufacturer, to different specs, and out of different materials, while playing exclusively in Game situations wearing the same equipment he's used for the past 3 Seasons, (since he "re-invented" his Game, coincidentally), could not possibly be having any effect, whatsoever, on his Game. I simply stated that if Dom claims that the "different equipment" was what caused his Season ending injury, that it is at least possible that the "differrent equipment" could be responsible for throwing Oz a bit off track. It had nothing, nothing whatsoever, to do with the whether or not I believe that Hasek was truly injured. I used it only to illustrate how one's body, (and by extension, one's Game), can be affected by using "different equipment."

I never called Hasek a sissy. Not once. I simply used the '99 Play Offs as an example of Osgood accepting the responsibility that goes with being a #1, and as a testament to how he could very well have "hidden", had he a mind, (and a handy excuse), to do so, but how he chose not to. ***Edit*** As an aside... One could certainly use the "gee, here we go again..." line for this entire thread. And the many others like it, here and elsewhere. One would hope that after a goaltender Wins his SECOND Stanley Cup for a Franchise, and does it convincingly, with the best GAA and 2nd best SVP in the Post Season, and during a year which could very well see him crack the Top 10 Goaltenders in NHL History, one would hope....against all hope..... That the "we need a new goalie!, Soon" threads could wait at least until the following Play Off year. Especially after the guy just lifted the Cup, again, six months ago.

I'd rather Oz decline interviews on practice days, and concentrate on getting his Game back to where it should be. He needs to focus on his play on the ice, not what's being said in the Media. He's hardly "hiding", as you've inferred. He's come out and stated that he needs to play better, and that he'll continue to battle through this rough patch until his Game is back where it should be. Would you prefer he open up a vein? Perhaps he can go on and on to the Press about how he needs his wife to hold him, or how he feels like going home and hanging himself. As for the "responsibility which goes along with being a #1": Oz was injured during the 1st Round against the Ducks in '99. He missed the first 4 games of Round 2, while his back-up played two great games, followed by two really, really, really bad games. His Team needed him. His Coach, the best Coach in the History of the NHL, came out and stated how much his Team needed him. Even if he was only 80%. So he came back, at 80%. He took his place between the pipes for his Team, because he accepted the responsibility which goes along with being a #1 - he Played. Through pain. Through injury. When his Team called on him, he gave everything he had. Because that's what Hockey Players do. He failed, but it wasn't for lack of trying. He gave his heart and soul, along with his injured knee, and accepted the outcome, for better or worse. No excuses. And certainly no "hiding".

Let me try this again... It was "different equipment" which CAUSED the injury to Dom. If "different equipment" is enough, (according to Dom), to cause a serious, Season ending injury.... Again....I'd say it's fair to say that "different equipment" is enough to throw a goalies game off more than a bit. And Ozzie seems somewhat "fine", although he does look more than slightly "off". He'll get it worked out, I'm sure. As to the other...?? Perhaps he's so frustrated with his game that he'd rather decline interviews than physically assault media types. <shrug> Who knows?

Not like much of anyone was paying attention when they were a Cup Winner, either. Win or lose, the 'Ning get about the same amount of fan interest. Nearly none. <shrug>

According to Hasek, it was the fact that he used someone else's goaltending equipment which caused the groin injury during a practice at the Olympics, and kept him out of the Post-Season for Ottawa. If , (according to Dom), practicing in different equipment than what he was used to was enough to knock him out for a good part of an entire Season, and all of the Play-Offs, I'd say it's fair to guess that switching back and forth between one set of equipment and another might very well be having an effect on Ozzie's game.

With all due respect, the Game is not played on an Excel spreadsheet. It's played on the ice. The shots against have been declining. The turnovers in the Defensive zone, behind the net, etc., have not. That's the problem with Stats Junkies. Stats tell a poor tale. If a goalie gives up 4 goals on 10 shots, you'd say he had a bad night. Right? That's what the "stats" read, anyway. Unless, of course, you happen to know that it wasn't 4 goals on 10 shots, but 4 goals on 10 PENALTY SHOTS. Quite a bit of difference there. Having said that, Ozzie hasn't been as good as he can be. He needs to toss the old equipment. I hear he's breaking in new equipment exclusively in practice.....but still wearing the old equipment in Games. Fark that. You can't practice all week wearing one set of equipment, get a feel for it, and then use totally different equipment when the puck drops in a Game situation. That's gonna throw your Game all off kilter. Cut the cord, Oz, one way or the other. Either use the old equipment, practice and Game, and break in the new stuff over the summer, or commit to the new equipment, practice and Game, and get rid of the old stuff. Can't keep switching back and forth like that. You'll never get comfortable in net.

Lowest common denominator, harold..... Which restaurant sells more food? McDonalds, or Craft? Now....does that mean that the food at McDonalds is "better" than the food at Craft? Does it mean that the service is better? The atmosphere? Hell no. Ridiculous. What it means is that it's cheap, easily accessible, and caters to the lowest common denominator..... Those who are simply looking for "something", "anything" to eat, and don't really care that what they're eating is crap, made from crap ingredients, and "assembled", (I wouldn't even call it "cooked"), under crap conditions. Hey....some even take pride in the fact that they enjoy it. It's on TV, and there are catchy jingles, and attractive young people singin' "I'm lovin' it!" It's GOTTA be good. Right? Look at the GARBAGE that passes for the most "popular", the most viewed, shows on television these days. Same scenario. I can't believe ANYONE would watch this stuff....let alone MILLIONS. The collective IQ of this Nation has plummeted. It dips lower and lower with each episode of "American Idol" and "Dancing with the Stars", and with films, (films which USED TO BE based upon real literature), that are now based on VIDEO GAMES and COMIC BOOKS. Watch the movie "Idiocracy" for a magical look into our inevitable future. We are well on our way. ***Edit*** <ahem> Sorry. Not really sure where that came from, nor what it had to do with Sean Avery. Sorry, folks. Back to your regularly scheduled programming....

Hey....why stop there? If he really wanted to get under a players skin, he could always wait until the next time the Stars face off against the Lightning, call the media to him, wait for them to get set up, and then start crackin' wise about Kolzig's dopey little retard kid. Brilliant. All part of Avery just being Avery. Right?

I've a sneaking suspicion that playing hockey will not be nearly as enjoyable an experience for Mr. Avery, going forward. His conduct has been reprehensible throughout his taudry little career. He's made himself plenty of enemies amongst opposing Teams players. Now it appears that he's sickened even his own Teammates to the point where they're openly disgusted with him. Paint a bullseye on the guys' back.

Many apologies! I was under the impression that Avery had made his comments in a lockerroom, to the National media, rather than ON THE ICE, where comments such as that, much like fist fights, are not only accepted, they are EXPECTED. They are both also, mind you, LEFT ON THE ICE.

What he said.

I'm sorry. I fail to see how that pertains to my post. The question was "Who's going to be offended other than his ex-girlfriends?" Is Elisha Cuthbert's father a "public figure"? Her mother? Sister(s)/Brother(s)? Her Aunt Fannie? Avery's comments were made after practice, in the lockerroom of an NHL Arena, to the National media, and while he was officially "on the job", as an employee of both the Dallas Stars AND the NHL. He was out of line. WAY out of line. Are you telling me that you could go into the office tomorrow, stand up on the table in the breakroom, call everyone's attention to yourself, and announce to EVERYONE that Vicky in Accounting, (a girl you dated briefly, but who now dates your co-worker), is "sloppy seconds", and not be FIRED for the offense? Immediately?