Osgood proves he doesn't deserve No. 1 spot

[Cern 0]

Saying it's the defense's problem is bogus, Conklin plays behind the exact same defense when he starts and so far has been responsible for EVERY shutout this season, including against a charged offense like San Jose's. It is NOT a matter of simply dumping blame on the defense and people need to stop resorting to that excuse; it simply dosen't hold water.

[eva unit zero 271]

This.

That should end the debate right there. The only explanation is that the defense plays better with Conklin in net which seems like a stretch. The other is that he is just playing better, which seems more likely.

Let's compare how the defense played for both goaltenders in the same game.

Osgood started the game against Dallas, played 20 minutes, and gave up 3 goals on 12 shots. Conklin started the second period, played 39 minutes, and allowed one goal on 11 shots. Now tell me that the defense played just as well for Osgood as it did for Conklin.

Osgood faced 0.6 shots per minute, compared to Conklin facing 0.28. Less that HALF what Osgood faced. Tell me how it's completely Osgood's fault. Especially as Osgood is still just recovering from injury.

I'm not claiming Osgood to be perfect...but those who are saying Conklin is aren't paying attention.

[VM1138 1,921]

This is all so very familiar....

Dare I say Ozzie is this season's Hasek?

[Yzerman191 37]

Let's compare how the defense played for both goaltenders in the same game.

Osgood started the game against Dallas, played 20 minutes, and gave up 3 goals on 12 shots. Conklin started the second period, played 39 minutes, and allowed one goal on 11 shots. Now tell me that the defense played just as well for Osgood as it did for Conklin.

Osgood faced 0.6 shots per minute, compared to Conklin facing 0.28. Less that HALF what Osgood faced. Tell me how it's completely Osgood's fault. Especially as Osgood is still just recovering from injury.

I'm not claiming Osgood to be perfect...but those who are saying Conklin is aren't paying attention.

That's one game, and that's also the way things usually happen when a team starts off terribly. The Red Wings caught on after that, and started to get their s*** together. But don't try to apply that to most of Osgood's starts, being that it was only one game. Conklin has faced 653 shots in 24 games (27 per game, on average), whereas Osgood has faced 693 shots in 26 starts (26.7 per game, on average).

Nobody is trying to say that Conklin has been perfect; they're saying he has been better, which is almost indisputable.

[Lovin Jiri Fischer 147]

Even if the whole "defense plays better in front of Conklin than for Osgood" argument is true, then that still means that Conklin needs to be the #1 starter so we have the better defense.

[BuckeyeWingsfan80 209]

People here blamed me about that I keep saying Osgood should not be our first starting goalie. So, I write this by expecting many people's fingering on me.

First, Osgood sucks.

I stopped reading there. You posted your conclusion before you gave any reasoning, such as it was.

And quit murdering my English language goddammit.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

I'm loyal to Ozzie just as I'm loyal to all of the Red Wings players. I love my team to no end.

BUT I can't sit back and be blind to what's going on with Osgood. I believe he can turn it around, but I also believe that until he does - we need to put Conklin in net to let Ozzie overcome his obstacles.. and then focus on our D from there.

Just my two cents.

[Viperar 16]

I'm loyal to Ozzie just as I'm loyal to all of the Red Wings players. I love my team to no end.

BUT I can't sit back and be blind to what's going on with Osgood. I believe he can turn it around, but I also believe that until he does - we need to put Conklin in net to let Ozzie overcome his obstacles.. and then focus on our D from there.

Just my two cents.

QFT

its as simple as that, ozzie is an awesome guy and I am a big fan, but until he gets his stuff together, conklin deserves the starting job straight up.

[RedArmy 4]

I let Babcock and Holland make the call on whether Ozzie sucks... I have seen enough hockey as a fan to say Ozzie hasn't played well this year and in addition to that neither did the wings... with that said all I care about is if they can make the playoffs and if they win the cup... let's see ...

as Scottie used to say you win with your best players and lose with your best players...

[lets go pavel 2]

If our goal is simply to play the goalie who has played better, then I don't think there is much argument, Conklin gets the job.

But ... I'm not hearing a lot of people who sound real confident that he's the guy to take us to the promised land. Most of the reasoning seems to be "let's let him start until Ozzie gets his game together". Again, I ask ... how does sitting Ozzie help him get his game together? Send him a message? He's not a 25 year old who's just screwing around, what good is a benching going to do?

Personally, I think we can afford a rough stretch right now, and quite frankly we need to find out sooner rather than later whether Ozzie is going to get things going again. The best way to do that is to play him. I'd rather not wait until March to start giving Ozzie serious starts, only to find out he's done and it's Conklin or bust ...

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Let's face facts, and it is that Osgood has been terrible this season. Last season is just that, last season. He's been awful all season long, and those who think otherwise are just fooling themselves. I say start Conklin. If it weren't for him, the Wings wouldn't be where they are now.

I think your facts are off honestly. I am not arguing that Ozzie has outplayed Conklin because he hasn't. However, your statement that the Red Wings wouldn't be where there are now without Conklin is flat-out false. Ozzie has made 25 starts this season and out of a possible 50 points, the Red Wings have earned 36 points. Conklin has made 23 starts and the Red Wings have 33 points out of a possible 46. For Ozzie, that's a 72% rate and for Conklin it's just slightly less than 72%. Therefore, in spite of the performance between the two goalies, it's tough to argue Conklin has been any more successful relative to the Red Wings winning than Ozzie has. I do agree that Conklin has been a better goalie than Ozzie so far, but both have been equally good in getting the Red Wings points.

[Statts 4]

I'm loyal to Ozzie just as I'm loyal to all of the Red Wings players. I love my team to no end.

BUT I can't sit back and be blind to what's going on with Osgood. I believe he can turn it around, but I also believe that until he does - we need to put Conklin in net to let Ozzie overcome his obstacles.. and then focus on our D from there.

Just my two cents.

YES!

I let Babcock and Holland make the call on whether Ozzie sucks... I have seen enough hockey as a fan to say Ozzie hasn't played well this year and in addition to that neither did the wings... with that said all I care about is if they can make the playoffs and if they win the cup... let's see ...

as Scottie used to say you win with your best players and lose with your best players...

AND YES!

100% agree with both

This Scottie fellow is/was a good and great man

[Casey 145]

I still stand behind the idea of sending Ozzie down for some conditioning.

[CrabCZ 0]

Osgood = last year's Hasek. The difference is that Hasek haters are now Osgood apologizers.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Osgood = last year's Hasek. The difference is that Hasek haters are now Osgood apologizers.

That's a horrible comparison. The Red Wings defense never played at this poor of a level last season for Hasek. Your argument isn't even relevant to the circumstances.

Edited January 31, 2009 by GoWings1905

[Z and D for the C 712]

Conklin just got lucky that's all

He probably tripped, a gust of wind spun him around and he was only trying to grap the other post so as not to fall on his face.

[CrabCZ 0]

That's a horrible comparision. The Red Wings defense never played at this poor of a level last season for Hasek. Your argument isn't even relevant to the circumstances.

Agree, that's probably why Osgood's numbers suck even more than Hasek's did.

[Statts 4]

I think your facts are off honestly. I am not arguing that Ozzie has outplayed Conklin because he hasn't. However, your statement that the Red Wings wouldn't be where there are now without Conklin is flat-out false. Ozzie has made 25 starts this season and out of a possible 50 points, the Red Wings have earned 36 points. Conklin has made 23 starts and the Red Wings have 33 points out of a possible 46. For Ozzie, that's a 72% rate and for Conklin it's just slightly less than 72%. Therefore, in spite of the performance between the two goalies, it's tough to argue Conklin has been any more successful relative to the Red Wings winning than Ozzie has. I do agree that Conklin has been a better goalie than Ozzie so far, but both have been equally good in getting the Red Wings points.

I dont like when people throw numbers out, because they can be misleading. Watching games, Conklin has played better, he has made the big saves when needed.

But Ozzie was solid last year, and am confident that he still has what it takes back end the Wings.

[M0DAN01999 6]

That's a horrible comparison. The Red Wings defense never played at this poor of a level last season for Hasek. Your argument isn't even relevant to the circumstances.

From an outsiders view, I agree with this. While I admit I don't watch a ton of wings game from what I have seen your defense hasn't been up to snuff lately. Osgood hasn't been all that great either, but IMO that is not the main problem. Even being a Dallas, a player like Chris Connor should not score like he did last night on Conklin to make that a 4-0 game.

[Jocu 0]

Edited January 31, 2009 by Jocu

[WizardOfOz30 1,886]

I think the thing we need to look at is Ozzie's consistency. Yes we'd all love for him to be 100% every night he plays, but who here can be 100% all of the time? I will always be an Osgood supporter regardless of his numbers, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have room for improvement. I'm sure if he was asked about his recent play he'd be unhappy about it too. Which means he'll be working on ways to improve it, which is really all we can ask of him right now. I think he's has improved his game from years past and this will be another learning experience if growth is necessary.

[Statts 4]

From an outsiders view, I agree with this. While I admit I don't watch a ton of wings game from what I have seen your defense hasn't been up to snuff lately. Osgood hasn't been all that great either, but IMO that is not the main problem. Even being a Dallas, a player like Chris Connor should not score like he did last night on Conklin to make that a 4-0 game.

Indeed.

btw, Ribeiro is garbage

[xBrave_Heartx 0]

I still have faith in Ozzie.. I feel alot more comfortable with Chris in, Then i do Ty..

[FLWINGSFAN4013 5]

need to play whoever better as the starter and treat every game as a playoff.

osgood would have to accept that if conklin is playing better he should be the starter just as dom ended up being the back up after a few playoff games last season.

[WizardOfOz30 1,886]

need to play whoever better as the starter and treat every game as a playoff.

osgood would have to accept that if conklin is playing better he should be the starter just as dom ended up being the back up after a few playoff games last season.

Osgood wouldn't complain about Conlkin starting. He knows what his job is, to win games. If he's not doing well he knows he won't be playing.