NeverForgetMac25

No, Ozzie's play during the season was *similar* to the *defenses* play during the season. The offense fired on all cylinders the entire season. I'm not about to coddle the defense or Ozzie and say their level of play was acceptable by the standards they've both set over the course of the past decade plus, but I will say that its somewhat understandable given the Stanley Cup hangover and how talented the team is. Now that being said, both Ozzie and the defense have greatly stepped it up the past 2 games which is great to see and what most thought was possible. Again, Ozzie's current level of play puts him right there with the offense and defense, but only given this past regular season to look at even Ozzie fans likely would've ranked the three areas of the team with these ranks: (1st) Offense, (Distant 2nd) Defense, (Close 3rd) Goaltending. If I understood soonboomer correctly, that was the point of his post.

soonboomer and Shoreline, if you want to continue the pissing match take it to the PM's please. As for the debate you two started off having, I'll throw in my two cents. I can understand people stating that the big question mark that surrounded this team heading into the playoffs was Ozzie given his play all season. Now, anyone that doesn't realize that Oz has stepped up in the past when it counts is merely delusional, but to say that there was zero concern over his play heading into the playoffs was a stretch claim for anyone to make. I don't doubt what Oz has done in the past, but sometimes people cling to those hopes when a players' time has come for them to move on. Cleary, *currently* this isn't the case for Ozzie. Now that being said, I can understand the logic behind what soonboomer was stating that when you compare Ozzie to this current Red Wings offense and defense, one could make the argument that the talent level of those two groups does exceed that of Ozzie's. On the other hand, its also easy to defend Ozzie and point to his career numbers as a reason he isn't the weak link. While I appreciate what players do for the Wings in the past, I also care more about what they are doing for the team right now. Right now, its hard to call Ozzie the weak link based on his current play. If anyone wants to base that statement on this past regular season, its more than justified. That being said, again....his current level of play puts him right there with the capability of the offense and defense.

Caps, Flames and Bruins are my picks. The Caps might find it a little easier playing without the home-crowd pressure, while the Flames should get the boost they need to tie this series before it heads back to Chicago. The Bruins....we'll lets just say i'm pissed I picked the Habs to win one game.

Probably on a golf course.

Fixed it for you. Holland has all but said he won't re-sign Chelios. He's going to keep playing, but if its in the NHL it'll be with a different team.

Clearly this guy tuned in at the start of the second period of Game 1, because anyone in their right mind would've gave credit to Oz for that performance. That being said, what does it matter how many shots he faces? Any goaltenders' job when playing for the Winged wheel is to make timely saves, because that's generally all you get. That doesn't make him the weak link, just less utilized. That being said, thus far Oz has done exactly what the guys in front of him have needed. I don't care about the rest.

I just love his choice of words...."Oh cocksucker, it was going so well."

Because he knows the Wings did nothing illegal. NHL'ers always push the legal limits on what you can and can't do on the ice. Like you said, if he feels the Wings did something illegal he should've contacted the league and kept the media out of it. This was just a blatant attempt to help his team not feel like they got outplayed.

Translation: We got outplayed and I don't want my team to feel it was because of them.

It goes back to tone being difficult to convey over the internet, especially with people that aren't regulars on LGW. Tone can get lost in the translation until you start to know different members' tendencies. My thought is neither one is more right or wrong than the other. Blind homerism and emotional rants both fall into the same annoying category.

But so is the person that says, "this team sucks" when they clearly don't. Do they have nights where they suck or play poorly: absolutely. Does their record indicate otherwise: Without a doubt. Keep in mind that I'm not one of the Ozzie homers. I appreciate everything he's done, I appreciate that he stepped up his game last night, but I also agree that no player (regardless of what their name is) is immune to constructive criticism. That's the point of discussion forums.

Or the 15 we've already had this season.

CenterIce via TV does the same though too. This was one of the many reasons I switced to DirecTV this past year. TimeWarner in my area didn't carry the NHL Network and I missed roughly 3-4 Wings games last season as a result.

The problem is that some people let their emotions get the best of them. I have no problem calling out a player when they aren't playing up to snuff, but there's a massive difference between constructively criticizing a players' current level of play and s***ting on them. Ozzie's done so much winning throughout his career and you don't earn the numbers and hardware he's has without being consistently one of the better players at his position. I guess my point is that I have no problem when members post their concerns about any player that's not playing at the level they should/could be. It's the ones that can't keep their emotion in check and start (or join in on) a new "Player 'A' Sucks" thread immediately after a Wings loss that irritate me.

And this is what its about. I said yesterday that Ozzie doesn't need the D to step up for him to step up his game, just like the D shouldn't need Ozzie to step up for them to step up their game. Last night, was point-and-case for both. The first period with our D giving up quite a bit (especially given the PK trouble they got in) Ozzie stepped up big time and kept the Wings in the game. From the second period on, the D looked like they did last Spring, and Ozzie didn't have too much work. Even with his reduced workload from the second period on, Ozzie made the saves the Wings needed him to make. That's the Ozzie the Wings need. He was great last night, plain and simple.....and it wasn't because of the D in the first period.

I assume you're in the Detroit viewing though, correct? I have Versus, along with Center Ice on DirecTV and FSND (and HD) are both channels I get. I assume they'll be blacked out for me though, thus forcing me to watch it on Versus.

You are correct in saying that if the D steps up their game this team doesn't need a superstar goalie. However, we need Ozzie to be solid which he hasn't been all season. OsGod, its clear you're putting the GA issue the Wings have had all season simply on the D in front of him, and while I agree its been half the problem, Ozzie hasn't been near himself all year. The point stands that they *both* need to step up. Regardless of the D stepping up, the opposition is still gonna get shots on goal and Ozzie's gonna have to make those saves to help instill the same level of confidence the team in front of him had last Spring. As sick as I am of people blaming Ozzie for the GA problems this season, I'm just as sick of people saying when the D steps up, Ozzie will to. It's BS if you ask me. Ozzie can step up his game even if the defense doesn't, just like the defense can step up their game even if Ozzie doesn't. Let's hope *both* do.

Translation: Kronwall hurt Cleary's arm. I love playoff injury reports.

IMHO, I disagree. Even if they split, I can't see the BJ's taking both games in Columbus. Given that, the Wings would likely win game 5 to put the BJ's on the brink. Now that being said, the Wings have no excuse for not winning this series. If they play as hard and with the intensity they did last spring, their talent level is far too much for Columbus to hang with. If the Wings outwork the BJ's, I expect a quick 5 game series. If the BJ's outwork the Wings, the series may go quite long.

The cycle of pinning the blame on the defense, then on Ozzie, then back to the defense, then back again to Ozzie is beyond old. The fact of the matter is that *both* Ozzie and the defense need to step up their game. They've done it before and know the intensity level the playoffs require. If the Wings don't win it all, its not going to be because of one or the other.....it'll be because of both. Similarly, if they are fortunate enough to win it all, it will again be because of both.

Thanks mindfly. Incredible backstory, and one of the best player-past articles I've read in a long time.

That's a great feature! If I didn't have DVR this would alleviate so many headaches.

Typical Philly. Can't win, so start cheapshotting.

44-18 in face-offs favoring the Caps. That's flat-out amazing. At first I thought you were knocking me.

Role players don't make $6.5 million per.