The Biggest Problem with the Defense and Osgood

[eva unit zero 271]

it's the exact same argument that was made when Osgood split time with Vernon

In 1996-97, Osgood's numbers (47GP, 23-13-9, 2.30 and .910, 6SO) were almost as far ahead of Vernon's (33GP, 13-11-8, 2.43 and .899) as Conklin's (30GP, 21-7-1, 2.32 and .915, 6SO) are ahead of Osgood's (31GP, 18-5-7, 3.29 and .879, 0SO)

The differences I notice?

Osgood and Conklin are facing almost exactly the same number of shots this season in almost exactly the same amount of time played. In 96-97, Osgood faced 6% more shots per game played in 14 more games, Osgood played the majority of the season with neither goalie injured, and he posted much better numbers and a much better record. DESPITE all that, Vernon was the playoff starter.

How exactly is anything being argued in Osgood's favor right now the same argument that was made in 96-97? If anything, Osgood was more deserving in 97 than Conklin is now, given the season he had in 95-96 and then the one he had in 96-97, for the Wings to go with Vernon ultimately worked out (though Yzerman should have been the Smythe winner) Osgood deserved the playoff start in 97.

[Doggy 130]

Small goalies suck, no one under 6'1.

Yeah exactly. Turco, Fuhr, Thomas, Nabokov, Vernon, Belfour, Richter, Sawchuk, Plante... all hopeless.

[e_144 0]

No they are not linked together. Osgood sucks, Conklin doesn't. Why do you still search for all kinds of excuses for Osgood. He was incredible last year but is just brutal this season.

as over simplified your reasoning may be, you are right. here are the two facts that say it all:

red wings rank 3rd in shots against but 17th in goals against.

osgood is dead last in goal save percentage amongst goalies who play regularily.

its quite simple not that many shots are getting through, because our defense is doing a pretty good job. osgood on the otherhand, is not doing a very good job with the few shots that are getting through.

The solution to the above is very simple: conklin starts and howard and osgood compete for backup.

The thing that worries me far more is our pk. Its AWEFULL! We rank 27th in the league!?! That isnt exactly stanley cup material. We really have to do something about that.

[Sepster 0]

How exactly is anything being argued in Osgood's favor right now the same argument that was made in 96-97?

I'm not arguing stats, because, obviously Osgood's were better in '97. What the argument I was referring to was that the team plays better in front of one goaltender than the other.

In '97 Bowman went to Vernon for the majority of critcial games, especially down the stretch. I remember telling a couple of my buddies in January of '97 that Vernon was going to be Bowman's guy for the playoffs and they thought I was nuts.

The reason was the Wings seemed to play a more controlled game in front of Vernon than Osgood, people argue that the Wings didn't have as much confidence in Vernon so they beared down more. That's the argument a lot of people are making now, the team bears down more in front of Conklin than they do Osgood.

The real difference is that Vernon and Conklin are much better at controlling their rebounds and pace of the game, that's what accounts for the apparent discrepency in the way the Wings play in front of either goaltender.