Is it just me or...

[wmubronco420 25]

to ms. hockey, i didnt start this thread to say that the team purposely plays better in front of conklin, nor that it has to do with confidence in either goaltender.

I just said that it seems like they're playing better defense in the games conks plays, sure ozzy lets in some soft goals but conklin hasnt exactly been a stud either.

Like if ozzy was in for any of conklins 6 shutouts, i would say he could have gotten them too, because it was the overall defense that played well, not amazing goaltending.

[The Secret 304]

10 days off for Osgood shows that they have total confidence in him doesn't it? There nothing wrong with his mechanics! Now what will all the Osgood worshippers say? What is the excuse now? Having him in net playing like he is was affecting the over-all play of the team.... Bye bye! Hope he can find himself with his time off but it should have happened sooner then this IMHO.

[Doc Holiday 0]

10 days off for Osgood shows that they have total confidence in him doesn't it? There nothing wrong with his mechanics! Now what will all the Osgood worshippers say? What is the excuse now? Having him in net playing like he is was affecting the over-all play of the team.... Bye bye! Hope he can find himself with his time off but it should have happened sooner then this IMHO.

This whole name calling crap is really pathetic.

[The Secret 304]

This whole name calling crap is really pathetic.

Isn't calling people pathetic name calling?

[sureWhyNot 19]

Does the overall team defense seem to play better in front of Ty Conklin? I mean, last nights game i think conks was really tested like 1-2 times tops. While ozzy seems to get quite a bit more quality chances on him, and sees more defensive lapses in front of him.

Or maybe im just blinded by my love for ozzy and im making up excuses for him... what do you guys think?

p.s. i dont mean to create another goalie thread, but just wanted to share my thoughts

I was actually thinking the exact same thing the other night when they were playing, and beating up on Nashville. They seem to have a little more pop in their step, at least over the past month or two, with Conklin in. I don't know if they are over thinking things when Ozzie is playing because of his recent performances, or what. But I definitely noticed the same thing.

[sureWhyNot 19]

I really don't think it has anything to do with the team losing confidence in the goaltender. Teams just don't function that way. They don't blame their teammates for losing games, the way we do here on the forums. They don't ostracize and pick on Osgood after he lets in pucks. They don't want to serve his head on a silver platter to Gary Bettman, in the hopes of him disappearing for good.

They're a team. They win as a team - they lose as a team. I'm sure they ALL know Osgood is struggling.. but I don't think a veteran professional ice hockey player is stupid enough to lose so much confidence in the guy who JUST won them the Stanley Cup that they let it affect their play to the point where they go on losing streaks.

The whole idea just sounds too immature to me. They've been in this business for way too long to let it get under their skin like that.

Yes they do function this way a lot of the time. They are not neccesarily "blaming" him, but confidence has everything to do with it. The same can be said in football in regards to the o-line and protecting the QB. If a quarterback looses his linemen, its all over -- regardless of whether it is said out loud, or not.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

Yes they do function this way a lot of the time. They are not neccesarily "blaming" him, but confidence has everything to do with it. The same can be said in football in regards to the o-line and protecting the QB. If a quarterback looses his linemen, its all over -- regardless of whether it is said out loud, or not.

There's nothing wrong with that notion, I just don't happen to agree.

[Yzermaynard 1]

Seems to me Osgood's continual inconsistency to control the rebound forces the defense to play differently and definitely not for the better.

Pretty much exactly what I was thinking of posting... Thanks for saving me the time.

[Yzermaynard 1]

This whole name calling crap is really pathetic.

Isn't calling people pathetic name calling?

I believe "Doc" was referring to the act itself, not the person committing the act, therefore no it's not name calling.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

So, TheOwl, I pose to you a multiple-part question then.

If Osgood does start that game, and he plays a great game and wins it, and allows 2 or fewer goals...does it mean the end of your Osgood bashing?

Or, by the same token, of Conklin starts the game, and gives up 3+ goals on fewer than 25-30 shots, including a couple that he should have stopped, and due to his bad play the Wings lose or score a ton to come away with the win...do you then react as you have been to Osgood's few games that have fit that description? Does Conklin lose his status as the 'anointed' goaltender on LGW?

And what happens if neither of those things happens?

Tell me, TheOwl...if the Wings win, and Osgood plays well and makes solid saves, but due to ridiculous defensive mistakes the Wings allow 3 goals Osgood had zero chance on (such as a 2 on 0 breakaway while the Sharks are shorthanded), is he guaranteed out as starter?

Thats a pretty ridiculous notion all around. What you're suggesting is that you should base a goaltenders performance on one game. Thats akin to saying maybe we should suddenly consider Draper to be one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL once again, simply because he pulled off a great defensive game.

If Osgood plays a great game, or Conklin plays poorly, then the implications are for that game only, and they should be praised or critiqued, respectively. But it hardly say anything of things to come.

The assumptions on this board that Conklin has been stronger than Ozzie has come from Conklin having decent games much more often than he has poor games, and the reverse for Ozzie.

Now, thats not to say Ozzie isn't capable of returning to form, or that Conklin will fall back to earth, but until we see Ozzie perform consistently well then he shouldn't be crowned starter. Simple as that.