Should We Alternate Goalies in the Playoffs?

[Packer487 3]

Just as people are way to quick to say that almost every save is spectacular.

I'd be inclined to argue that that happens a lot more on Osgood's side around these parts. Against Dallas, people wanted to give him the Hart, Pearson, Vezina, Hobey Baker, and Heisman for diving to stop a shot that was going 3 feet wide of the net.

Hasek was legitimately great in that game against Dallas the other night. It blows my mind that people don't give him the credit he deserves.

Well, let's see. Just going going on observations. Osgood is quicker side-to-side, recovering, controlling rebounds, more sound, handles the puck 802346087234 x better, anticipates better.

Pretty amazing that Dom keeps anything out of the net, eh?

He's playing the best hockey of his life and he's going to get shafted because of Hasek's name.

If Osgood gets the shaft in the playoffs it's going to be because Dom is playing well enough to earn the first crack at it. You can't deny it's been a LONG time since Osgood has had success in the playoffs (it's been what? 7 or 8 years since he won a series maybe?). If it's even close you gotta go with Hasek. Babcock isn't stupid. If Dom kept fighting the puck like he was at the start of the year, and Osgood kept playing like an All-Star, Osgood would've gotten the nod. But Dom has been great lately, even if no one wants to admit it. If it keeps up, and Dom's coming into the playoffs playing at the level he's at right now, it'd be stupid not to go with him first. If he gets back to struggling, and Osgood keeps playing the way he's playing, then go with Ozzie. I've got no problem saying that.

Sorry if I'm not sold on Hasek or tandeming them. Hasek is playing well yes, but Osgood is simply better this year. Obviously his play and stats back that up. It's not like Osgood knows what it takes to win the cup. And does anyone else find that the team is more confident with Osgood in net?

As of late, the stats haven't backed that up. They have shown that both our goalies are awesome and the guy wearing #39 probably deserves a little more respect.

Here is a perfect example why you can't really look at small stretches of games in isolation (good or bad):

Ty Conklin (career minor leaguer, emergency call up by the Pens), last 7 games:

7-0, 1.67 gaa, .948 sv%

All he's doing is stopping the puck. He hasn't stolen any games

Seriously though, I'd argue that Dom's early season struggles are the outlier, not his last 10 games. Based on his career (and even his play last year), it seems pretty safe to say that's the case.

[calfan 0]

Not sure who starts the playoffs, but virtually positive Osgood finishes them, whether by early exit or SCC. From what I've seen, he's the most consistent Wing goalie, the youngest, the stablest, etc. I don't see him fading and I think sooner or later Babcock will have to ride him to the end, even if they start the playoffs with Dom in net.

[Opie 308]

I think the problem in the past with the two goalie system is that it is usually younger guys who need time to develop a rhythm in net, to get a good streak going.

These two are starting to show that they have no problems alternating starts. If Babs plays the two like this the rest of the season (and he should be able to if they keep their lead in the West) and the team doesn't miss a beat why not.

I am skeptical of it, but these two seem so focussed it could work.

But as some one brought up in the Sundin thread, this is another one of those: If you do it and win you are a genius, if you do it and lose you are an idiot situations!

[Turkey 0]

Babcock has been saying Hasek will be the #1 from day one. However, I can't help but wonder if the decision to alternate games until the 60 game mark isn't a way to reevaluate where things stand. Could Ozzy steal Dom's spot? I'm honestly not sure. The good thing is that if we do start Dom in the playoffs, I think Ozzy won't have an ego-maniac meltdown about it as some goalies might, Ray Emory for example.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Babcock has been saying Hasek will be the #1 from day one. However, I can't help but wonder if the decision to alternate games until the 60 game mark isn't a way to reevaluate where things stand. Could Ozzy steal Dom's spot? I'm honestly not sure. The good thing is that if we do start Dom in the playoffs, I think Ozzy won't have an ego-maniac meltdown about it as some goalies might, Ray Emory for example.

I'd be more worried about Hasek having an ego-maniacal breakdown if Ozzy was to start.

[Reds4Life 51]

As much as Dom is competetive, hes not guy who would put his personal desires ahead of team succes.

Edited January 7, 2008 by Reds4Life

[edicius 3,269]

How about this...could they share the Jennings Trophy this season?

[T.Low 1,011]

Why fix what ain't broke? If the tandem is working this well come playoffs time (assuming we make it) then why not stick with it? I don't think there'd be anything wrong with it. You don't sit a hot goalie. I'd hate to let one go cold on the bench and have the other get hurt.

I agree with my friend an hour south on I-5 from me. Let the tandem continue to roll.

Some of Osgood's level of play this year may have something to do with the fact that there is no pressure on him with Hasek being the higher paid number one goalie. Dom gets all the focus and pressure. They seem to have settled into a good rythym alternating like that, if it stays good, why mess it up?

Thye need to concentrate on why the divisional record is poor. What's happening in the divisional games that is not happening in the other games and how can they prevent it from happening in the playoffs. Personally, I would rather place lower in the standings, but still make it into the playoffs, then win the Stanley Cup, than to win the Presidents trophy only to loose in the WCF.

[dallas27 7]

Pretty amazing that Dom keeps anything out of the net, eh?

So you aren't disagreeing that Ozzie is better in all those categories and statistically?

If Osgood gets the shaft in the playoffs it's going to be because Dom is playing well enough to earn the first crack at it. You can't deny it's been a LONG time since Osgood has had success in the playoffs (it's been what? 7 or 8 years since he won a series maybe?). If it's even close you gotta go with Hasek. Babcock isn't stupid. If Dom kept fighting the puck like he was at the start of the year, and Osgood kept playing like an All-Star, Osgood would've gotten the nod. But Dom has been great lately, even if no one wants to admit it. If it keeps up, and Dom's coming into the playoffs playing at the level he's at right now, it'd be stupid not to go with him first. If he gets back to struggling, and Osgood keeps playing the way he's playing, then go with Ozzie. I've got no problem saying that.

And it's been a LONG time since the Wings have had success in the playoffs. Keep in mind what success is in Detroit. It's great that Hasek has been playing great lately. But Osgood has been playing greater since the beginning of the season.

As of late, the stats haven't backed that up. They have shown that both our goalies are awesome and the guy wearing #39 probably deserves a little more respect.

So 19-2-1 and the leader in gaa and sv% doesn't do anything for you? Hasek gets respect. But look at Ozzie's stats for the whole season. I just find it somewhat silly to say that Hasek is equally as good or better than Osgood this year.

Edited January 7, 2008 by dallas27

[irishtemper14+25 11]

i would play ozzie, but i think that a tandum might work against teams too. it might be hard for the team to adjust to the different playing styles

[OsGOD 3]

I'd be more worried about Hasek having an ego-maniacal breakdown if Ozzy was to start.

Eh, oh well his breakdown (if there) would be short lived anyways... he is done after this year most likely... If hasek is better than Oz at the start of the playoffs... then start him.. if not, then don't

Don't pull a Babcock with manny and name anyone starter before the all-star game.

I don't want to see more than one goalie in the Post season... The only way babs would do that is if one is absolutely sucking and i don't want to have our back to the wall at that point.

Edited January 7, 2008 by OsGOD

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

I don't want to start a war, so I'm not going to bring up all the reasons to start Hasek, but I think it's pretty clear that Dom is going to get his chance barring a complete collapse/injury.

Osgood has been stellar. He deserves to be on the All-Star team, and I think he's got a pretty good shot. But the fact that he's been as good as he has and Babcock was never willing to anoint him the starter--and only has them as co-goalies at this point--it seems like he knows (or at least suspects) who the guy is come playoff time.

I think these guys are actually helping each other. Osgood's stellar play likely made Dom realize he needed to get with it in a hurry, and Osgood knows that he's gotta play lights out hockey if he wants to keep seeing regular playing time and have a shot at minutes in the post-season. And they've both responded in a big way to the challenge. Also, they both get days off--and since neither of them is the model of perfect health, it's hard to see how that's a bad thing.

We really can't go wrong either way. Osgood's got him in stats right now, but since that 3 game losing streak almost 2 months ago, Dom is 8-1-1 (and can hardly be blamed for that regulation loss where he gave up 1 goal and got 0 goals of support offensively) with a 1.47 GAA and a .930 save percentage with 2 shutouts. Over Osgood's last ten, he's 9-1-0 with a 1.70 GAA and a .934 save percentage with 1 shutout.

It's hard to point at Osgood's season stats at this point and say "He should be the starter" when Dom has been playing every bit as well as of late. If I'm making the decision today about who is starting the playoffs, I don't care that Dom's numbers are worse because he looked like butt a couple times early on in the year.

But the real thing that those numbers show: Both of our goalies are freaking ridiculous.

I'd never thought I'd see the day where you'd make a post like this. It's about time! Atta boy. l

[Zion 93]

Two scenarios:

1) Start one goalie, and play the second goalie during a series in a back-to-back situation

2) One goalie plays home games, one plays road games.

[Mudvayneowns91 0]

What's better than having one goalie playing outstanding and giving the Wings a high chance to win? Two goalies playing to those standards!

[Grittzkey 1]

Yes we should alternate goalies in PO's, Its proven to be good for us so far. Why change it

[Guest DetroitIan]

Yeah I think it would be a good idea. We have two very capable netminders. So if we rotate them during the post season, we don't have to worry about fatigue from either guy. Both will be fresh and ready when their turn comes.

Hasek/Osgood = The best tandem in the game.

[betterREDthandead 58]

It would be pretty stupid not to stick to a No. 1 guy for the playoffs. It's nice to be able to have a pretty reliable back-up plan in case of injuries or poor performance, but you have to show confidence in your starter and you have to ride the guy who you trust the most. If I were in charge, I'd give the job to Ozzie because he's been most consistent this season and he works best with our skaters. If anything goes wrong, Hasek isn't a bad Plan B.

Ordinarily I agree that it's usually good practice to show confidence in your starter, because goalie confidence can be pretty fragile. But these are two veteran goalies that have been too successful for too long to lose confidence. If splitting time were a problem for them, they'd be showing it by now.

The Wings are leading the league by a long, long shot with a goalie tandem that nobody can beat. When things are working, you don't change them up.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Play Dom in Round 1, Ozzie Round 2, Dom Round 3, Ozzie Round 4.

[Offsides 21]

Play Dom in Round 1, Ozzie Round 2, Dom Round 3, Ozzie Round 4.

haha.

Um.

I've never seen why a tandem couldn't work in the playoffs but coaches are loath to try it. I think the playoffs are too stressful for Dom, on his body. Tandem could be a good solution. Ozzie, imo, deserves playoff starter...he's number one goalie IN THE LEAGUE. Not on our team....in the league.

When we were hurrahing Ozzie in October that was one thing...but halfway through he's only gotten BETTER. He's 1 in GAA and Sv %.

Dom is playing incredible. Horrible start..playing great now. I thought he was totally washed up, but he's clearly not.

We have 2 assest who CLEARLY feed off each other for either competitiveness or from the support of knowing someone's got their back. WHY the hell not try it? it might be a good strategy...think of the teams trying to strategize...not being able to rely on the roster being the same 2 nights in a row. That's kind of intimidating. Someone beats Ozzie in night 1 can't use the same move on Dom in game 2. hahah...it would be the biggest psychological advantage to have 2 great goalies and keep switching them around with different weaknesses.

Hmm.. 16-0

[Packer487 3]

So you aren't disagreeing that Ozzie is better in all those categories and statistically?

It's stupid to get into an argument that can't be won. If I say "No, I think Dom is better at moving side to side", what then? It's easy to argue in favor of something that can't be disproved.

Osgood is clearly better statistically thusfar, but Dom has matched him game for game over the last month and a half. And yet somehow, some people on here just want to write off Dom's successes to him stopping the pucks he's supposed to stop, while Ozzie is not only stopping every shot on his own, he's handing out pizzas in the crowd while the puck is down in the other end, and saving puppies from getting run over on Jefferson while he's at it.

And it's been a LONG time since the Wings have had success in the playoffs. Keep in mind what success is in Detroit. It's great that Hasek has been playing great lately. But Osgood has been playing greater since the beginning of the season.

What do Hasek's struggles in October and Osgood's hot start mean when the Playoffs roll around? If Hasek keeps playing like he's been playing, they aren't going to sit him in the playoffs because he didn't play well against Anaheim in October. 17 games into the season, Datsyuk had 2 goals. Does that mean anything now? No!

If you look at playoff performance, it's really not even close who has had more success. Especially in the recent past.

So 19-2-1 and the leader in gaa and sv% doesn't do anything for you? Hasek gets respect. But look at Ozzie's stats for the whole season. I just find it somewhat silly to say that Hasek is equally as good or better than Osgood this year.

It doesn't do anything for me? Go back and look at the adjectives I've used to describe Osgood in this thread alone. I said even said he belongs in the All-Star game.

Hasek hasn't been as good as Osgood this season. But over the last month and a half, he has been. And if I'm making the call about who starts in the playoffs (especially a few months from now) I don't much care what happened in October.

[sibiriak 84]

According to this, TSN Power Rankings

Babcock is going to alternate goalies till game 60 and then whoever plays the majority of the last 20 games will start in the playoffs. All will be revealed in due time.

[Offsides 21]

According to this, TSN Power Rankings

Babcock is going to alternate goalies till game 60 and then whoever plays the majority of the last 20 games will start in the playoffs. All will be revealed in due time.

I haven't been this excited since finishing Half Blood Prince

Um. *spoiler alert* Ozzie

[puckloo39 5,686]

Packer 487 for President. You are awesome, my friend.

About this "name" thing: For those who think Dom gets praise because of his name, I often tend to think the name has a lot to do with his being ignored for game stars and given little credit for playing well. It's like a double edged sword, that HASEK on the back of the jersey. So much is expected... any mis-step is overblown.

OSGOOD has a similar problem, in a way. Some fans wait to pounce on anything he does "wrong" and who tend to think his victories are accidental or temporary. I don't think so. I think he's actually changed the way he plays (as has Dom), for the better, in the New NHL. Kudos to both of the Wings goalies for being so talented and able to adjust and excel.

I was at the game in Dallas Jan 5. Hasek was amazing. I was thrilled to see the Wings play an amazing game, too. Hasek really didn't just stand around and stop 22 pucks accidentally, but didn't get a game star. Ribiero did, for 0 goals, 0 assists. Oh, well...

I didn't get to see the Chicago game last night, but assume Ozzie was just as good, and that the Hawks no longer smile when Detroit rolls onto the ice.

Ozzie and Dom are both playing equally well at the moment, and I don't see any reason to break the pattern. For now, anyway. Anything could happen, good or bad, to influence the decision of who is #1 for the playoffs. I say both of them would be fine, but I know that is unusual to tandem in the playoffs. Then again, so is having two legitimate #1 goalies, especially on a team this good.

[TheUkrainian 49]

I think we should use science and fuse them into one super-goalie so we can totally dominate...

[DyingAlive 27]

I think we should use science and fuse them into one super-goalie so we can totally dominate...

Best idea I've heard in a longgggg time.

But seriously, the best advice I've heard about the playoffs is this.

Stick to what got you to the playoffs in the playoffs. Why change things up in the playoffs? It isn't a time to try different things. Especially in the case of the Wings. A dominating team should stick to their dominating strategy in the playoffs. Enough said. Tandem