Official: Osgood to start Game 5

[SylenT 0]

man im gonna miss dom I really hope he gets another chance!! anyways hopefully putting in Osgood will win us the series cause I dont want to see another early exit

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

Good move Babs. I guess you are as smart as I hope you are.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

says a lot, the unholy joy exhibited over Hasek's departure, doesn't it? Usually, that's reserved for the opponents, not your own goalie, but whatever...

Dom is honest and always takes responsibility for his play if he's bad. When he's great, he gives the credit to the team. That practice hasn't served him well here, but that's how he is. Couldn't agree more with your post, Pack.

I think most people (me personally as well) aren't happy because Dom is no longer starting, but moreso because Ozzie is now and the Red Wings have a better chance of winning this series with Oz in goal. I couldn't care less who starts in goal ... I just want the team to win.

Dom has admitted himself that his play in not up to his own personal standards, and certainly not good enough to win the Red Wings the series. I'm not pitting the past two games solely on Dom because there is plenty of other blame to go around. However, Dom needs to at least give the Red Wings a chance to win on nights when the team in front of him isn't playing that well, and he hasn't done that at all. Playoff goalies have got to stop shots like the de Vries goal last night. That was a backbreaker for the whole team.

I give Dom credit for handling this well so far. We all know how hard he competes, and how tough this probably is on him right now. It's Ozzie's turn now, and no one can say that he doesn't deserve it.

[uk_redwing 495]

Well this is a good start.

Lilja in for Chelios

Downey in for Hartigan

Abdelkader in for Sammy (never going to happen in several million years but it would be a huge improvement)

[puckloo39 5,686]

I'm not knocking him at all. I give him a lot of credit for his maturity in the coaches decision. While I can understand why some people might be frustrated that Dom made those comments since they remind people of Manny, I still think if Dom gets the call again this post season, he'll step up and the team will around him.

I will hold you to that.

No one here has ever said Ozzie doesn't "deserve" to start game five for those who are still fixated on that, so no need to complain about that. Babs has done the right thing all along, this is no exception. He knows this team better than any of us ever will.

[Datsyukgrl_in_ATL 0]

I'm totally bias to Ozzie but for strictly selfish reasons. I had a big crush on him in 97 and he's obvi the better looking goalie.

But also, he played so good this season, so I'm glad he is getting a chance, even tho it's not under the best circumstances.

[gcom007 1,465]

as I was saying, Dom's honesty about his own play doesn't serve him well. Now he's dumb for being up front about his play. Never happy, are we?

No, it doesn't. It doesn't serve anyone well. The same logic has applied to everyone in the past so why not Hasek? When Legace did it with us, everyone called it unprofessional because it was. That's what you say to your friends when you need to vent, not in the locker room and to the press.

This is their job. If you work for any given company and you start speaking up in the workplace and to the media about how much you suck at your job right now, do you think it'd be tolerated or reflect well on the whole? No. It'd be considered unprofessional. It's human to feel that way and you need avenues where you can vent those thoughts, but the media especially is the last place to do it.

And again, I only bring this up because it's not over and like I said, we may have to go back to him if something comes up. Comments like that just make it harder to have confidence in him. I've defended him as much as is reasonable all things considered, but I'm still going to call it how it is. It's fine to feel that way for a time and to talk it out within a trusted circle, but it's not cool at all to vent that stuff to the media. You of all people should be far more upset about it than I am. Your guy is pretty much admitting defeat. Realistic or not, you just don't do that. Ever.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

nm

Edited April 17, 2008 by Never Forget Mac #25

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I will hold you to that.

No one here has ever said Ozzie doesn't "deserve" to start game five for those who are still fixated on that, so no need to complain about that. Babs has done the right thing all along, this is no exception. He knows this team better than any of us ever will.

Go for it. I'm all about the team, not the individual. If Dom gives us the best chance to win, I'd much rather have him in than Ozzie. Right now, I feel Ozzie gives us a better chance to win than Dom. Simple as that, and hence my signature.

You can save this post for verification from now until the day I ever decide to leave this site (which probably won't ever happen).

[puckloo39 5,686]

Go for it. I'm all about the team, not the individual. If Dom gives us the best chance to win, I'd much rather have him in than Ozzie. Right now, I feel Ozzie gives us a better chance to win than Dom. Simple as that, and hence my signature.

You can save this post for verification from now until the day I ever decide to leave this site (which probably won't ever happen).

I agree... one individual did not lose that game last night, it was the team. They didn't give themselves too much of a chance until Babs kicked Dom out and got their attention. If that's what it takes to make them pay attention, then sacrifice Hasek, by all means. Too bad it took that to get them on board.

I've been here since 2002. Not leaving either, much to some peoples' dismay. Tough.

[puckloo39 5,686]

No, it doesn't. It doesn't serve anyone well. The same logic has applied to everyone in the past so why not Hasek? When Legace did it with us, everyone called it unprofessional because it was. That's what you say to your friends when you need to vent, not in the locker room and to the press.

This is their job. If you work for any given company and you start speaking up in the workplace and to the media about how much you suck at your job right now, do you think it'd be tolerated or reflect well on the whole? No. It'd be considered unprofessional. It's human to feel that way and you need avenues where you can vent those thoughts, but the media especially is the last place to do it.

And again, I only bring this up because it's not over and like I said, we may have to go back to him if something comes up. Comments like that just make it harder to have confidence in him. I've defended him as much as is reasonable all things considered, but I'm still going to call it how it is. It's fine to feel that way for a time and to talk it out within a trusted circle, but it's not cool at all to vent that stuff to the media. You of all people should be far more upset about it than I am. Your guy is pretty much admitting defeat. Realistic or not, you just don't do that. Ever.

never happy... Anyone who knows Hasek know he doesn't quit. He was just saying what he thought. He's not sitting in a corner sucking his thumb, he on the ice working to get back. I personally don't expect to see him again but who knows what will happen.

Dom is callng it like it is. Just like you, e.

It would be nice if we could give the guy a little credit, rather than tearing down everything he's said and done... to what purpose? But, hey, why am I even trying to reason with you.

Edited April 17, 2008 by puckloo39

[Dominator2005 558]

I'm a big Hasek fan but first of all I'm a Red Wings fan... If Osgood is starter next game I will be behind Osgood 100%... We need to win next one - hopefully Detroit will be playing some DEF in front of Osgood...

LET'S GO RED WINGS LET'S GO!!!

[puckloo39 5,686]

I'm a big Hasek fan but first of all I'm a Red Wings fan... If Osgood is starter next game I will be behind Osgood 100%... We need to win next one - hopefully Detroit will be playing some DEF in front of Osgood...

LET'S GO RED WINGS LET'S GO!!!

and offense. They acted like a team capable of winning for the last 20 or so minutes last night. Maybe they will do it again tomorrow.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I agree... one individual did not lose that game last night, it was the team. They didn't give themselves too much of a chance until Babs kicked Dom out and got their attention. If that's what it takes to make them pay attention, then sacrifice Hasek, by all means. Too bad it took that to get them on board.

I've been here since 2002. Not leaving either, much to some peoples' dismay. Tough.

I agree that as a team they lost last night, but just like how Lilja was benched for Lebda due to his play the same goes for Hasek. No one is singling him out, but just like the defense needed a shake-up with Lebda due to Lilja's play, so does the goaltending.

Edit: (Tori) Spelling

Edited April 18, 2008 by Never Forget Mac #25

[ILWingsFan1 0]

Good call, but any real hockey fan knows the fiasco that was games 3 and 4 was not all Dom's fault. The entire team, save 1 or 2 guys, has looked like s***.

I love Dom, have since long before he was a Wing the first time around, but I don't care who's in goal as long as the Wings win.

[Packer487 3]

No, it doesn't. It doesn't serve anyone well. The same logic has applied to everyone in the past so why not Hasek? When Legace did it with us, everyone called it unprofessional because it was. That's what you say to your friends when you need to vent, not in the locker room and to the press.

This is their job. If you work for any given company and you start speaking up in the workplace and to the media about how much you suck at your job right now, do you think it'd be tolerated or reflect well on the whole? No. It'd be considered unprofessional. It's human to feel that way and you need avenues where you can vent those thoughts, but the media especially is the last place to do it.

And again, I only bring this up because it's not over and like I said, we may have to go back to him if something comes up. Comments like that just make it harder to have confidence in him. I've defended him as much as is reasonable all things considered, but I'm still going to call it how it is. It's fine to feel that way for a time and to talk it out within a trusted circle, but it's not cool at all to vent that stuff to the media. You of all people should be far more upset about it than I am. Your guy is pretty much admitting defeat. Realistic or not, you just don't do that. Ever.

He's not admitting defeat. He's manning up and saying he played like ass. If he came out with some comment like "I think I"m playing fine" people would be destroying him and saying that he was putting the blame on his teammates. He said what pretty much everyone was thinking.

It's not like he said "This is the worst I've ever played in my life. I don't know how I'll ever get my game back." He said he's going to have some good practices--and that he had one today--and basically that he'll be ready to go if he gets another chance. If he was admitting defeat, he wouldn't have said he's not happy about the decision. And I wouldn't want a player who WAS happy about being benched.

I'll take what Dom said any day over the canned answers that pretty much every athlete gives. Some people don't like candid. That's cool. I do.

Edited April 17, 2008 by Packer487

[kylee 727]

i never thought id have to worry about the Wings as a collective team not playing well. i did not think id be saying this in the 1st round against the nashville predators.

to be honest, im really scared for tomorrow. i have no reason not to be scared. the preds have won two in a row, our starting goalie has been yanked, and our DEFENSE of all things is playing badly? cmon...

[Datsyukian Geek 2]

My confidence level for our boys just went up, and i'm a little more calm about the rest of the series now.

[puckloo39 5,686]

I agree that as a team they lost last night, biut just like how Lilja was benched for Lebda due to his play the same goes for Hasek. No one is singling him out, but just like the defense needed a shake-up with Lebda due to Lilja's play, so does the goaltending.

oh, Mac... OK, if you say so. I guess all the hundreds of posts exulting over Hasek's ouster were my imagination, then. YOU are not singling him out. Well, you, me and 10 others here.

At least people didn't blame Lebda last night, but I think someone still ragged on Lilja for not being far enough away from the ice as a healthy scratch.

j/k

[norrisnick 1]

never happy... Anyone who knows Hasek know he doesn't quit. He was just saying what he thought. He's not sitting in a corner sucking his thumb, he on the ice working to get back. I personally don't expect to see him again but who knows what will happen.

Dom is callng it like it is. Just like you, e.

It would be nice if we could give the guy a little credit, rather than tearing down everything he's said and done... to what purpose? But, hey, why am I even trying to reason with you.

Credit for what exactly? Allowing back-breaking goals on consecutive shots four times in three games? Yeah, good job there, Dom! Way to go!

As you so aptly put it, to what purpose? Why continue to drag him around propping him up when the positives are all long gone in his admittedly sterling career? If he were still capable of being the Dominator and showing it out on the ice, there wouldn't be anyone tearing him apart. He isn't, he's not, so they are. That simple.

That last sentence was also very well put. You can use it here if you'd like.

[puckloo39 5,686]

He's not admitting defeat. He's manning up and saying he played like ass. If he came out with some comment like "I think I"m playing fine" people would be destroying him and saying that he was putting the blame on his teammates. He said what pretty much everyone was thinking.

It's not like he said "This is the worst I've ever played in my life. I don't know how I'll ever get my game back." He said he's going to have some good practices--and that he had one today--and basically that he'll be ready to go if he gets another chance. If he was admitting defeat, he wouldn't have said he's not happy about the decision. And I wouldn't want a player who WAS happy about being benched.

I'll take what Dom said any day over the canned answers that pretty much every athlete gives. Some people don't like candid. That's cool. I do.

me, too. Damned if you do, damned if you don't, eh? Too bad people don't read entire quote before adding their editorial opinions to them.

[puckloo39 5,686]

Credit for what exactly? Allowing back-breaking goals on consecutive shots four times in three games? Yeah, good job there, Dom! Way to go!

As you so aptly put it, to what purpose? Why continue to drag him around propping him up when the positives are all long gone in his admittedly sterling career? If he were still capable of being the Dominator and showing it out on the ice, there wouldn't be anyone tearing him apart. He isn't, he's not, so they are. That simple.

That last sentence was also very well put. You can use it here if you'd like.

Nick, I didn't mean giving Dom credit for the game, I meant that he was trying to respond to the media. Rather than criticizing what he said, and when he said it, it might be a nice idea to acknowledge that he knows he can do better. He's down, there's really no purpose in beating him to death with the obvious. He will do everything he can to come back. If that doesn't happen, people can just be happy that he was man enough to step aside and let the Wings do their thing with the goalie they feel comfortable with.

By the way, you know as well as I do that Dom is not a "happy go lucky" guy, on the best of days. He's a dour Czech and he tells it like it is. I think people here may not recognize that he isn't admitting defeat, he's just stating the obvious. They aren't used to any goalie who actually admits he might be in any way responsible for being part of a team loss.

Edited April 17, 2008 by puckloo39

[norrisnick 1]

Nick, I didn't mean giving Dom credit for the game, I meant that he was trying to respond to the media. Rather than criticizing what he said, and when he said it, it might be a nice idea to acknowledge that he knows he can do better. He's down, there's really no purpose in beating him to death with the obvious. He will do everything he can to come back. If that doesn't happen, people can just be happy that he was man enough to step aside and let the Wings do their thing with the goalie they feel comfortable with.

By the way, you know as well as I do that Dom is not a "happy go lucky" guy, on the best of days. He's a dour Czech and he tells it like it is. I think people here may not recognize that he isn't admitting defeat, he's just stating the obvious. They aren't used to any goalie who actually admits he might be in any way responsible for being part of a team loss.

I'm fairly certain that since Dom is a player and not the coach that he really doesn't have much of a choice in the matter.

He tells it like he sees it. Slight difference.

[FUUFNF 1]

You know, even in retrospect, I think you've gotta start Dom in Game 4. You've gotta give him the chance. I think he and everyone needed to see that. When you make a change like this, you gotta be able to do it with some confidence and you do it after Game 3 and the second Osgood lets in a weaker goal (it'll happen, it happens to everyone) you'd be wondering if Hasek should be the guy. You had to give him the chance to prove either that he could do it or he couldn't. I think that's a lot more important than people realize.

exactly. and that's why i was perfectly fine with starting dom in game 4. with a 1 game series lead at the time, we were afforded an opportunity to see if dom could work himself outta his funk, but now that we know what we know... no question oz starting game 5 is the right decision.

[edicius 3,269]

I also wanted to thank you Osgod for switching your Sig, as I believe it was you with the Hasek one. I was more scared of seeing Dom in the shower then I was when "IT" came out of the gutter.