10/30 GDT: Red Wings 2, Oilers 1

[Guest DetroitIan]

IMO he's the face of the Wings when it comes to goaltending. He's been in the Wings system since his late teens, and has done/been through everything with this club. He's a great guy, very, very good goaltender, and an excellent team player. Plus you won't find more loyal guys to their team than Oz. He's amazing. I don't care what goalies come in and out of Detroit because when it all comes down to it, Chris is the only one that matters.

Ok, hypothetical. Let's say Ozzie strains his groin or something really bad. And the Red Wings sign Roberto Loungo. And Loungo plays lights out. Would you give Roberto the proper love?

[VM1138 1,921]

This is a bit off-topic, but it's really unfair to blame Legace. He was the reason we did so well a few seasons ago, and it's just Detroit fan habits to blame the goalie for a playoff exit.

Now, I agree that with Cujo/Legace/Hasek/Osgood the goaltending positions have become a mess. But man, Ozzie is really bringing a lot to the table. People talk about how he's simply "solid", but he's putting up numbers that beat all the "best" goalies out there. He's unbeaten in what, 18 of his last games? At least in regulation. Hasn't allowed more than 2 goals this season. Sure, it's early on in the season, and he's only had to play half the games, but he's doing great. The only way to win a Cup is to have a consistent goaltender. You don't need the best goalie. You need the most consistent. A streaky goalie doesn't get you anywhere, because you can't adapt fast enough to recover from lapses.

Ozzie being solid and reliable, we have a serious shot at the Cup this year. We know what to expect from him. I only hope Babs knows what he's doing come playoff time and he can handle the urge to play Hasek all the time, even if he performs poorly.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Ok, hypothetical. Let's say Ozzie strains his groin or something really bad. And the Red Wings sign Roberto Loungo. And Loungo plays lights out. Would you give Roberto the proper love?

I'm not stating anything about not having love for any other Wings goaltenders. I LOVED Cujo and Manny. I'm just saying that when it comes down to it, the rest don't matter as much because Ozzie is the one that has stuck around, and has accomplished the most with this team.

[Duck Guy 86]

nice to see the oilers get 0pts ... but i gotta take the flames in the next game they are out of their slump and playing like they should be playing .... should be a nice game to watch

[Third Man In 2,091]

I gonna be the downer here and say let's not look ahead too much to the playoffs. It's great to see the team playing well and earning a lot of points in October that they'll need down the line, but it's too early look that far ahead.

I haven't seen Ozzie this locked in since he came back to the Wings. If he can see it and get to it, he's gonna stop it.

[Sebastian 0]

Dude, I've been on that since the 2nd half of last year once he got past his injuries. I feel like he's been the better goalie throughout that time and I'm glad people are finally starting to realize that he's the real deal. He's a smart goalie who is just about perfect positionally. He doesn't make the flashy plays but he's pretty much always where he needs to be to make the save. Considering so much of his game is mental, it doesn't surprise me that he's still capable of playing so strong and even stronger. He said he felt last year like he was becoming a better goalie as he worked on new techniques and whatnot and it's known that he works very hard in practice. I don't know...as I've always said, I'm not someone who just loves Osgood because he's Osgood. He's a great team guy and I like him, but the bottom line is he's playing great, great hockey. Let him keep going. If it were anyone else who was "injured" it would be Osgood's job to lose at this time. I say it ought to stay that way.

SHOOT IVE BEEN ON THE OZ WAGON FOR LIKE SO LONG LOL.

next wednesday against the Preds,

weird lay off

calgary on thursday,

nashville at home the wednesday after.

DANG I WAS REALLY HOPING FOR OZ TO LAST UNTIL AT LEAST NOVEMBER 17 CUZ LIKE IM GOING TO THAT GAME RIGHT CUZ O YA BABY

IMO he's the face of the Wings when it comes to goaltending. He's been in the Wings system since his late teens, and has done/been through everything with this club. He's a great guy, very, very good goaltender, and an excellent team player. Plus you won't find more loyal guys to their team than Oz. He's amazing. I don't care what goalies come in and out of Detroit because when it all comes down to it, Chris is the only one that matters. *Well maybe not the ONLY one, but most important. * lol

It was asked if Ozzie or Howard would start.

DONT FORGET HES LIKE SO FREAKING FUNNY AND AFTER MEETING HIS FANS AT LEAST 2 TIMES HES A COOL GUY AND RECOGNIZES YOU AFTER A WHILE LOL CANT WAIT TILL NOV 17 YA BABY 6 AND 0. MEOWWWWWWWWW

[Guest DetroitIan]

I'm not stating anything about not having love for any other Wings goaltenders. I LOVED Cujo and Manny. I'm just saying that when it comes down to it, the rest don't matter as much because Ozzie is the one that has stuck around, and has accomplished the most with this team.

I feel ya.

SHOOT IVE BEEN ON THE OZ WAGON FOR LIKE SO LONG LOL.

DANG I WAS REALLY HOPING FOR OZ TO LAST UNTIL AT LEAST NOVEMBER 17 CUZ LIKE IM GOING TO THAT GAME RIGHT CUZ O YA BABY

DONT FORGET HES LIKE SO FREAKING FUNNY AND AFTER MEETING HIS FANS AT LEAST 2 TIMES HES A COOL GUY AND RECOGNIZES YOU AFTER A WHILE LOL CANT WAIT TILL NOV 17 YA BABY 6 AND 0. MEOWWWWWWWWW

Easy killer. It's called hitting that cap button again. Your writing is like hurting my eyes, lol.

[gcom007 1,465]

This is a bit off-topic, but it's really unfair to blame Legace. He was the reason we did so well a few seasons ago, and it's just Detroit fan habits to blame the goalie for a playoff exit.

I disagree. Legace is the only goalie I've taken issue with in the playoffs. Going in I didn't think he should be starting because it was very clear to me that one great month against a bunch of really s***ty teams doesn't account for much come playoff time. Again, Osgood was the better goalie going into the playoffs but they went with Legace instead. Legace played bad enough to lose. Every other goalie come playoffs has played well enough to win. Cujo played great in fact...our most standout player the 2nd year. Legace was an overhyped joke of a goalie with nothing of true worth to really back it up. I was fairly disgusted that he got the applause and support he did because at the end of the day, he was never that great of a goalie. I'm overjoyed that the Legace era is over because that guy was as big of a joke as Bob Essensa.

However, I agree with you about Ozzie though. Give me consistency. As said, sans Legace, goaltending has never been our issue in the playoffs. Let the classic Red Wing play his consistent game, pay him his peanuts and put the money where it's more needed. It's what I would've done, what may happen one way or another this year and what will almost certainly happen next year.

[Sebastian 0]

I feel ya.

Easy killer. It's called hitting that cap button again. Your writing is like hurting my eyes, lol.

My bad im just still excited for todays game lol

Edited October 31, 2007 by Sebastian

[Guest DetroitIan]

My bad im just still excited for todays game lol

Understandable. The Red Wings just keep on rolling! And all the non-wings fans out there that think we lost such depth. Better think again. The Red Wings are just as deep as ever. Which is another reason why we were able to squeek out the win tonight.

[Sebastian 0]

Understandable. The Red Wings just keep on rolling! And all the non-wings fans out there that think we lost such depth. Better think again. The Red Wings are just as deep as ever. Which is another reason why we were able to squeek out the win tonight.

Ya and iim happy that OZ is 6 and 0

[gcom007 1,465]

One more time, Legace sucked. I called out how it would go if we rode him as the starter all year long and I was pretty much the lone voice in the matter. Search for it. It's a true story. Low and behold, I end up absolutely right! It's a ***** letting reason and logic rule you as opposed to fanboy feelings. And one more time...

Legace was a joke. Bob Essensa style...Tim Cheveldae...Manny Legace...joke, joke, joke.

"He's such a nice guy..."

Joke.

[Guest DetroitIan]

Ya and iim happy that OZ is 6 and 0

Definitely! But by far the most important thing, is getting that "W". Even Ozzie would agree there.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

I disagree. Legace is the only goalie I've taken issue with in the playoffs. Going in I didn't think he should be starting because it was very clear to me that one great month against a bunch of really s***ty teams doesn't account for much come playoff time. Again, Osgood was the better goalie going into the playoffs but they went with Legace instead. Legace played bad enough to lose. Every other goalie come playoffs has played well enough to win. Cujo played great in fact...our most standout player the 2nd year. Legace was an overhyped joke of a goalie with nothing of true worth to really back it up. I was fairly disgusted that he got the applause and support he did because at the end of the day, he was never that great of a goalie. I'm overjoyed that the Legace era is over because that guy was as big of a joke as Bob Essensa.

Wow that's some pretty strong stuff. For what it's worth I thought/think Legace is a more than solid keeper, certainly no joke.

[Guest DetroitIan]

Wow that's some pretty strong stuff. For what it's worth I thought/think Legace is a more than solid keeper, certainly no joke.

I second that.

[Sebastian 0]

Definitely! But by far the most important thing, is getting that "W". Even Ozzie would agree there.

Who wouldnt baby were unstoppable so far, Calagary is going to be a tough game though. We better come out playing much better than this game, a lot better than this game. Both offense and defence.

[Guest Canadian Wings]

Legace is the reason why we lost to the Oilers in the first round 2 years ago. He couldn't come up with the big save. It seemed Roloson was robbing us left, right, and center. When Legace had to just make one big save he coulnd't.

Anyways, i want to see that Filppula goal because i was watching it on sopcast and the quality wasnt too gret...i kinda forget how it even looked now lol

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Legace is thriving in St Louis and good for him.

Off topic, but Brad Boyes is having a hell of a time in St lou too, 9 goals already on the season.

Tsk, Tsk Boston.

In: Sturm, Kobasew, Ference, Ward, Wideman

Out: Boyes, Thornton, Mara

Ouch.

Back to Manny, he was a pretty good goalie while he was here, guys in 05/06 the whole team other then Lang, Yzerman and Zetterberg and the grind line, everyone played bad. (Kronwall was pretty good too)

Edited October 31, 2007 by Detroit # 1 Fan

[Sebastian 0]

Legace is the reason why we lost to the Oilers in the first round 2 years ago. He couldn't come up with the big save. It seemed Roloson was robbing us left, right, and center. When Legace had to just make one big save he coulnd't.

Anyways, i want to see that Filppula goal because i was watching it on sopcast and the quality wasnt too gret...i kinda forget how it even looked now lol

Almost like Huds in Vanc

[gcom007 1,465]

Wow that's some pretty strong stuff. For what it's worth I thought/think Legace is a more than solid keeper, certainly no joke.

He didn't play well down the stretch against the same crappy teams no less and completely fell apart two years in a row in the playoffs. I mean, the 2nd year...that was just an utter and completely disaster. The last game was so embarrassing. He needs to do some soul searching and reconcile within himself that he's a descent backup at best. In a childrens paperback novel he wins the Stanley Cup, but this is the big time. Fairy tales don't exist. You put up or shut up. He fell apart.

I admit though, I am extra hard on him because of the fans loving him so much because of the whole underdog thing. Sure, that's fine and all, but I thought we would've gotten real come playoff time especially considering how poorly he played down the stretch. That's still the number one thing I hold against Babcock...that was just a stupid decision. Babcock likes the guys with good attitudes and Legace sure had it and he had the media and fan support, but at the end of the day, he didn't have it in him to even come close to getting the job done.

[Guest DetroitIan]

Legace is the reason why we lost to the Oilers in the first round 2 years ago. He couldn't come up with the big save. It seemed Roloson was robbing us left, right, and center. When Legace had to just make one big save he coulnd't.

Anyways, i want to see that Filppula goal because i was watching it on sopcast and the quality wasnt too gret...i kinda forget how it even looked now lol

I agree that Legace was basically the reason we lost a few years back. But all in all, I would definitely call him atleast a "solid" netminder. He's not amazing. He's not a joke. He's a solid goaltender. And he will be a starter in this league for some time to come.

[Shockwave180 0]

No goalie who is good enough to start in the National Hockey League is a joke. There are thousands (heck, millions?) of players at lower levels around the world who would kill to be that good.

Legace wasn't the answer, but he certainly wasn't a "joke." Show a modicum of respect.

Edited October 31, 2007 by Shockwave180

[Third Man In 2,091]

I second that.

Me too.

Manny wasn't ready to be a playoff goalie in 2006. But the regular season stats were far from a "joke": 37-8-3, 2.19 GAA, .915 SV%. Goalies often need to fail once or twice to be ready (see Ozzie in '94). Who knows? With another chance maybe it would have been a different story.

[gcom007 1,465]

Legace is thriving in St Louis and good for him.

Off topic, but Brad Boyes is having a hell of a time in St lou too, 9 goals already on the season.

Tsk, Tsk Boston.

In: Sturm, Kobasew, Ference, Ward, Wideman

Out: Boyes, Thornton, Mara

Ouch.

Back to Manny, he was a pretty good goalie while he was here, guys in 05/06 the whole team other then Lang, Yzerman and Zetterberg and the grind line, everyone played bad. (Kronwall was pretty good too)

Get back to me 60 games in and let me know how he's doing. If they make the playoffs and he actually plays just halfway-descently, I'll let it go a little bit. But I don't think it'll happen.

[Sebastian 0]

He didn't play well down the stretch against the same crappy teams no less and completely fell apart two years in a row in the playoffs. I mean, the 2nd year...that was just an utter and completely disaster. The last game was so embarrassing. He needs to do some soul searching and reconcile within himself that he's a descent backup at best. In a childrens paperback novel he wins the Stanley Cup, but this is the big time. Fairy tales don't exist. You put up or shut up. He fell apart.

I admit though, I am extra hard on him because of the fans loving him so much because of the whole underdog thing. Sure, that's fine and all, but I thought we would've gotten real come playoff time especially considering how poorly he played down the stretch. That's still the number one thing I hold against Babcock...that was just a stupid decision. Babcock likes the guys with good attitudes and Legace sure had it and he had the media and fan support, but at the end of the day, he didn't have it in him to even come close to getting the job done.

Man i so agree with you on like every single thing that you have said.