Cleary a go for Tuesday; Hasek has flu

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Great to see Cleary back.

I don't believe Hasek has the flu. I wasn't leaning towards either goalie for the playoffs down the stretch. I am now officially leaning towards Osgood again. Even if it's just the flu. When he hasn't performed consistently all year and he hasn't even exactly been healthy enough to start consistently up to this point, I think you're just asking for trouble. I'm sure both he or Osgood can perform well and rise to the occasion, but I'm feeling a lot more comfortable with Osgood as the steady man down the stretch.

And I don't think for a second that Hasek starting is a done deal no matter what management may say to the media. This will go down to the wire.

Up until a few weeks ago I would've disagreed with you but its starting to get to an alarming amount of missed starts. Osgood has been beyond solid this season and I'm really starting to believe that it could go down to the wire.

That being said, if Dom is healthy I still see Babs leaning toward him, regardless of whether or not he should.

[umredwing11 2]

Yay Cleary! I am looking forward to his return tomorrow night!

[miller76 463]

Ive noticed through out the league the flu just seems to haunt locker rooms. I know that Ozzie, Lebda, Downey, and now Hasek has it. I agree goalies play better with more time on the ice to get going on a roll, but at the same time you have to feel good to get on a roll. But what doesn't bother me, is that we get Howard up more frequently and get him adjusted to the big leagues, so when he is here to stay, the initial adjustment period will be shorter, and him more comfortable.

[Rivalred 630]

This is great news.... Now if we can get Homer back, we are almost there...

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

DANNY IS BACK!!!!!!!

I am seriously SO excited!! I can't wait till tomorrow.

[gcom007 1,465]

Up until a few weeks ago I would've disagreed with you but its starting to get to an alarming amount of missed starts. Osgood has been beyond solid this season and I'm really starting to believe that it could go down to the wire.

That being said, if Dom is healthy I still see Babs leaning toward him, regardless of whether or not he should.

Yeah, I agree, he's always going to have a little more clout because for better or for worse depending on the day, his jersey says Hasek. You can't argue with that and some days you love it, some days you worry. I'll fully admit that I'm an anxious person in generally, but I just don't want to see another Ottawa situation. I think it's getting to the point where realistically you can say that both of them are more than capable of playing when they're on, but Osgood's looking a lot more stable down the stretch.

You start Osgood and you may not get the Hasek high's he's certainly still capable of when he's on his game, but you have to ask, if the skaters can turn it up like they did last year, will they really need someone who's maybe a little bit better on some nights? I mean, considering the fact that Hasek's been inconsistent when in net and inconsistent in terms of health, is it worth the gamble to start him and have him either A) not play his A-game or B) get injured halfway through forcing a cold Ozzie to bring his A-game when it matters most?

A week or two ago I honestly didn't care who started and was fine thinking Hasek would be the starter. I thought both needed to pick up the consistency but figured hey, there's time. At this point, I'm sorry, but I'm just not digging the idea of Hasek starting. Not at all. I just don't think it'd be a wise move at all. Even at his best now he's not the goalie he was ten years ago and given everything else, I just don't think it's worth the gamble at all.

[Nicholonio 9]

Guys quit looking way into things here. Hasek is fine, they sent him home for a game. There's nothing to worry about, we've been under this pressure (if that's what you want to call it) before.

Great news on Cleary though, and of course Stuart.

[gcom007 1,465]

Guys quit looking way into things here. Hasek is fine, they sent him home for a game. There's nothing to worry about, we've been under this pressure (if that's what you want to call it) before.

Great news on Cleary though, and of course Stuart.

Too deep? He said it himself. He needs these 3 weeks to be ready to go because now he's not. These 3 weeks are just enough. Now he's missing at least 4 days on the ice? Again, even if it's just the flu, this is just getting ridiculous.

I'm calling it now: Osgood plays well tomorrow, they're splitting to the finish and if Osgood plays it straight the whole time, good chance he's starting. After all, we don't even know if he'll be back on the ice for sure Thursday. He's been out longer than first reported each time he's been "out" thus far this year.

[Barrie 900]

Cool, I'm looking forward to Cleary being back on the ice!

I'm sorry to say, but I've had enough of Hasek's injuries. If we have Osgood #1 in the playoffs, and Howard as the back up, I'm happy.

[MaynardJKeenan 1]

Cool, I'm looking forward to Cleary being back on the ice!

I'm sorry to say, but I've had enough of Hasek's injuries. If we have Osgood #1 in the playoffs, and Howard as the back up, I'm happy.

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

Homer left practice early and angry... uh oh. He must be frustrated that the pain just isn't going away.

Mac for Friday? Sounds good.

Flip sounds more cause for worry than Homer. Although Homer is a more important part of the team, Flip is what the Wings will need in the post. A player with scoring talent that the other teams forget about.

Cleary coming back is GREAT news. I feel a goal coming from him on Tuesday.

[Packer487 3]

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20072008/GS020283.HTM

Nov. 17 game Osgood didn't start b/c of flu but he backed up. Media reported as well beforehand that "it's just the flu so he can backup" more or less.

Twas a home game. There's absolutely no reason to stick someone with the flu onto a plane with 25-or-so other people that you would prefer not get the flu, especially if he's not going to play because of it.

Curse Dom and his immune system! Ozzie's immune system is far superior! Start him!

[hallelujahlogic 1]

i'm a bit wary of sammy being on the first line, but whatever. babsy knows what he's doing.

other than that...i am so f'n excited for cleary to come back, and for mac's return to the wings. lots of stuff for us to look forward to in the coming weeks.

it's good to be a wings fan, 'eh!

[WhiteLightning91 105]

The Red Wings just ended their Monday practice at Joe Louis Arena and are heading to St. Louis tonight. Dan Cleary had surgery to remove wires from his jaw this morning and remarkably was at practice and made it through every drill. He'll be in the lineup tomorrow night.

Cleary revealed the the front of his jaw is numb and could remain that way for a long, long time. Had he chosen the other procedure -- where his jaw would have been wired shut for six weeks instead of two and he would have missed the rest of the season -- he wouldn't have that numbness. That's a pretty big sacrifice to return to the ice.

Cleary will skate on a line with Johan Franzen and Jiri Hudler. Tomas Kopecky has been moved to the third line with Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby with the fourth line likely being Mark Hartigan, Aaron Downey and Dallas Drake.

Bad news elsewhere on injuries.

Valtteri Filppula (groin) left practice at the beginning and won't play Tuesday. Friday is unlikely for his return as well.

Tomas Holmstrom (abdomen) made it through most of practice, but left early and angry. he's out for tomorrow and might not be back this weekend either.

The only grey sweater (injured player) who made it through practice was Darren McCarty (ribs). Afterwards, McCarty said that he sees no reason why Friday's home game couldn't be his return date.

Dominik Hasek has the flu and missed practice. He won't travel with the team to St. Louis. That means Chris Osgood gets the start tomorrow and Jimmy Howard will be called up as the back-up. Defenseman Brad Stuart (broken finger) will join the team for practice on Thursday; he was given some time to spend with his expectant wife in San Jose. GM Ken Holland said he expects Stuart to return no later than Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs, possibly for Game 1.

Here's what the lines looked like:

Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Samuelsson

Hudler-Franzen-Cleary

Kopecky-Draper-Maltby

Drake-Hartigan-Downey

Pulled from RedWingsCorner and MLive

[savaking72 0]

Good to see Cleary back...we've missed you!

What's up with Sammy on the #1 line with Z and Dats? If anyone deserves that spot it's Franzen. If it were me making the decisions I would send Sammy to GR, and then send ANYONE up to replace him. No one, I mean no one is going to pick him up on waivers, and if they do...darn it!

[WhiteLightning91 105]

Good to see Cleary back...we've missed you!

What's up with Sammy on the #1 line with Z and Dats? If anyone deserves that spot it's Franzen. If it were me making the decisions I would send Sammy to GR, and then send ANYONE up to replace him. No one, I mean no one is going to pick him up on waivers, and if they do...darn it!

Judging from your post, I have come to the conclusion that I would feel more comfortable with the robot in your avatar running the team than you.

Edited March 24, 2008 by WhiteLightning91

[dallas27 7]

Small, small chance but I would love to see JHo play another game.

As for Hasek, he will still start the playoffs. No matter what.

[savaking72 0]

I know I would be terrible at running the team, but come one. Why is Sammy on the #1 line? What has he done to grant him this position? I must have missed something.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I love these conspiracy theory type posts towards Hasek being injured after Lilja, Lebda, and Downey have had recent bouts with flu-like symptoms. They are entertaining.

I think some are reaching too deep in the cookie jar looking for more problems than necessary.

DISCLAIMER: I don't care who starts in the playoffs, I trust both goaltenders and have no over-the-top positive or negative bias towards Osgood or Hasek or Howard or *insert goalie name here*

[gcom007 1,465]

Twas a home game. There's absolutely no reason to stick someone with the flu onto a plane with 25-or-so other people that you would prefer not get the flu, especially if he's not going to play because of it.

Curse Dom and his immune system! Ozzie's immune system is far superior! Start him!

Relevant point but none the less A) I'm quite skeptical about him actually having the flu and if it were any other player around this time of year, you know you'd be saying the same thing and B) he's still missing MORE time that he needs to get rolling. It's looking like more and more of a gamble to go with a goalie who hasn't played consistently well let alone consistently at all for the entire year. I'm hardly and Osgood fan-boy and I haven't been particularly impressed with him anymore than Hasek lately at all, but if you don't see how silly this is looking, you're just kidding yourself. I'm not saying he won't start or couldn't even be great and stay healthy, I'm just, the more this goes on and the closer it gets, the bigger the gamble and with someone like Osgood who's more than capable of stepping up, he's beginning to look like the better choice. It's not 1998 anymore.

[puckloo39 5,686]

I love these conspiracy theory type posts towards Hasek being injured after Lilja, Lebda, and Downey have had recent bouts with flu-like symptoms. They are entertaining.

I think some are reaching too deep in the cookie jar looking for more problems than necessary.

DISCLAIMER: I don't care who starts in the playoffs, I trust both goaltenders and have no over-the-top positive or negative bias towards Osgood or Hasek or Howard or *insert goalie name here*

True enough. But it gives so many here such unholy glee to think about it and state their opinions, I'd hate to be the one to derail the fun. Carry on, all!

[kylee 727]

regardless of what's really going on with Hasek, its great knowing we can send Ozzie into a series instead of some crap back up.

welcome back cleary!!!

[Nicholonio 9]

Too deep? He said it himself. He needs these 3 weeks to be ready to go because now he's not. These 3 weeks are just enough. Now he's missing at least 4 days on the ice? Again, even if it's just the flu, this is just getting ridiculous.

Then he should've told Babcock he's been needing time off if he hasen't been feeling good. Listen, everything will flow together just fine and things will slide in like a puzzle. I don't get why people worry all the time.

[tiff_luvs_homer 5]

I really hope Homer starts feeling better soon! But I don't want him to rush back... I didn't get to see him when he came to Denver in December and I'm gonna be really upset if he's not playing by next Thursday when we go to the game!

[Opie 308]

Given his past I would expect Dom to say he is done when he is done. I wouldn't expect him to say he has the flu when he is done. Remember the year he gave back money. This guy would say I am done.

Saying that I really think next year is Osgood then Howard, if Ozzie's play this year didn't earn him the post season (btw I have no care which one starts) start it earned him being the starter next year.