3/7 GDT: Blue Jackets 8 at Red Wings 2

[digitaljohn88 4]

I didn't defend Osgood at all early in the season. I thought most of his '08 starts were rough as can be. I haven't defended everything in '09. I'm not even saying he played great tonight and the D screwed him over. I'm saying the defense was 10X worse than Osgood could've possibly been tonight and they have been again and again lately. Osgood's been slowly improving in '09 despite the atrocious defensive play. I'm not saying he's playing great, but he's been improving while the defense has been getting worse. Tonight, and last week especially, the defense was just abysmal. The defense collectively played a worse game tonight than Osgood has played this year and that's saying a lot.

I've just watched all of the goals again multiple times. Again, like even the goalie-hating media has noted, you can't fault Osgood for much in this game. Go read back in my posts through this whole season. You'll see that I have no problem calling Osgood or Conklin out when they deserve it. I've done it plenty this year, and far more so for Osgood. The goalies have been getting left hung out to dry over and over lately. They're bound to fail miserably and again, when these awful plays are happening so perpetually, even the media struggles to knock the goalies.

What is most ridiculous to me again is that even if one says Osgood played a bad game, how can you not say the defense played a FAR worse game?!? And why aren't you talking about that???

x2

Does anyone really think we're going to win ANY game in which the team plays like that, regardless of who's in goal? The Red Wings sucked. Osgood sucked. Larry Murphy sucked. Hell, Conklin came in and let in a softie. Everyone involved in this game sucked. Move on.

[ben_usmc 253]

Over Conklin or McDonald? Yes.

He's our only option. And, as someone else pointed out, we need to worry about our D first and goaltending second. We're not paying a goalie to play like a Luongo or a Brodure, so our D needs to play tight (like last year).

The rest will all come together.

What in the f*** are you talking about, seriously do you even pay attention the Wings or just burn candles to an Ozzy poster

[vangvace 12]

He's also got more losses in less games.

That he does. Less OT losses, and a crapload of less goals allowed too.

Still calling for a tandem.

[Pasha13 0]

What in the f*** are you talking about, seriously do you even pay attention the Wings or just burn candles to an Ozzy poster

Yeah...if you mean Joey McDonald, I'm pretty sure he plays for the Islanders now...and he played for the B's before that...so...yeah...

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I know, my point is that we should ONLY give out NTC if they take a massive discount. Which Raffy nor Stuart, Draper have. Cleary was playing amazing when he got his so...I'm on the fence. But we need to stop handing those things the f*** out to every ******* that has a decent season or else we end up being Toronto 2.0 telling our kids the glory days of Wings hockey.

I also believe you pay a player for his primary job 1st and take on a few extra for secondary. Large some of money for playing great at either foward/defense/goaltending, take on if they can play F plays good d/hits/fights. D/score/assist/fight. goaltending/stop a motherf***ing shot.

Ahh, I see what you're saying. Good points. I'm inclined to cut Holland some slack on Rafalski for the money because he looked a lot better in the New Jersey system, it being so insular, but at the same time, I would think Holland would take that into account.

Like I said, I like Rafalski better than Schneider, but 6 X 6 was too long for a small, skilled 33 year old Dman.

[ben_usmc 253]

I didn't defend Osgood at all early in the season. I thought most of his '08 starts were rough as can be. I haven't defended everything in '09. I'm not even saying he played great tonight and the D screwed him over. I'm saying the defense was 10X worse than Osgood could've possibly been tonight and they have been again and again lately. Osgood's been slowly improving in '09 despite the atrocious defensive play. I'm not saying he's playing great, but he's been improving while the defense has been getting worse. Tonight, and last week especially, the defense was just abysmal. The defense collectively played a worse game tonight than Osgood has played this year and that's saying a lot.

I've just watched all of the goals again multiple times. Again, like even the goalie-hating media has noted, you can't fault Osgood for much in this game. Go read back in my posts through this whole season. You'll see that I have no problem calling Osgood or Conklin out when they deserve it. I've done it plenty this year, and far more so for Osgood. The goalies have been getting left hung out to dry over and over lately. They're bound to fail miserably and again, when these awful plays are happening so perpetually, even the media struggles to knock the goalies.

What is most ridiculous to me again is that even if one says Osgood played a bad game, how can you not say the defense played a FAR worse game?!? And why aren't you talking about that???

When has he improved, he wasn't even tested against STL. Ozzy hasn't gotten better at all he has been consistantly bad. How can you say he has been slowly better in 09, he was sat for 10 days in 09? WTF

[gcom007 1,465]

"We didn't give ourselves a chance. We left our goalie hung out to dry. Got out of sync by turning the puck over early and then never really got it going. You know when you play Columbus you've got to take care of the puck. It's not like we were surprised by anything they did. We didn't do our part. The bottom line like I said is that we hung Ozzie out to dry and in the end you don't feel very good leaving the building."

"I didn't think we gave Ozzie any help whatsoever."

-Mike Babcock

[Electrophile 3,554]

I don't think two 8 goal games are going to help Lidstrom any in his chase for another Norris.

The Norris Trophy, last I checked was an individual award. Nick has won in years where we didn't do squat in the playoffs.

[BuckeyeWingsfan80 209]

"We didn't give ourselves a chance. We left our goalie hung out to dry. Got out of sync by turning the puck over early and then never really got it going. You know when you play Columbus you've got to take care of the puck. It's not like we were surprised by anything they did. We didn't do our part. The bottom line like I said is that we hung Ozzie out to dry and in the end you don't feel very good leaving the building."

"I didn't think we gave Ozzie any help whatsoever."

-Mike Babcock

ehh what does that poser Babcock know anyway?!? I know more because I post on Letsgowings.com and I say Osgood sucks!!! /this thread after about 7:10PM.

[Guest MrSandMan]

What in the f*** are you talking about, seriously do you even pay attention the Wings or just burn candles to an Ozzy poster

Actually, I'm not a Osgood fan. Never been of fan of Osgood. I am a fan of the Red Wings and a fan of winning the cup. That is why I support Osgood in goal because he gives us the best chance with the options we currently have.

With that said, our Defense sucks and Babs needs to step up and nip the problem or we're done for. That's teh bottom line.

[Duck Guy 86]

Actually, I'm not a Osgood fan. Never been of fan of Osgood. I am a fan of the Red Wings and a fan of winning the cup. That is why I support Osgood in goal because he gives us the best chance with the options we currently have.

With that said, our Defense sucks and Babs needs to step up and nip the problem or we're done for. That's teh bottom line.

Well the same defense plays infront of conklin... I hate to beat a dead horse but it has to be done

[Guest MrSandMan]

Yeah...if you mean Joey McDonald, I'm pretty sure he plays for the Islanders now...and he played for the B's before that...so...yeah...

My bad, I meant Howard. thanks for pointing that out.

Howard has not been impressive either

[I Red Wings I 40]

ehh what does that poser Babcock know anyway?!? I know more because I post on Letsgowings.com and I say Osgood sucks!!! /this thread after about 7:10PM.

Oh come on, when will you ever hear an NHL coach talk brutally honest about a players performance. I'm not jumping on the bashing wagon but we act like we've never heard the phrase sugar coating .

[gcom007 1,465]

When has he improved, he wasn't even tested against STL. Ozzy hasn't gotten better at all he has been consistantly bad. How can you say he has been slowly better in 09, he was sat for 10 days in 09? WTF

He was sat for 10 days? That's a dramatic take on the matter. How many games did they have in that span of time? 3? It made sense to do and the media made a bigger deal out of it than it by twisting what was said. He got 10 days between starts because it made sense at the time with only a few games being played over the span of time. Everyone was pissed here when he came back "early" because it seemed to them that no time had passed because he hardly missed any games. Again, that was the point. It wasn't near as big of a deal as it was made out to be and it was a wise move. He's looked fine since returning when he's had a team playing in front of him and I know he's not going to be rattled by tonight's game. He knows who this game is on just like both he and Conklin knew who last Saturdays game was on. He'll be fine in his next start if he has a team in front of him.

[BuckeyeWingsfan80 209]

Actually, I'm not a Osgood fan. Never been of fan of Osgood. I am a fan of the Red Wings and a fan of winning the cup. That is why I support Osgood in goal because he gives us the best chance with the options we currently have.

With that said, our Defense sucks and Babs needs to step up and nip the problem or we're done for. That's teh bottom line.

I'll vouch for the first part. Remember we had a disagreement until we came to an understanding which was reinforced by this game actually.

Unless the D shapes up, we don't have a superstar in goal. That's just a fact.

but it's also a fact (since some on here are throwing that around like it applied to TONIGHT'S game) that the D has been particularly horrendous on many more occasions this year than last.

As I said during the massacre, when Detroit has cared this season, they have shut some good teams down. But when the other team has played desperation hockey kinda like what Columbus did tonight, Detroit has struggled all year long.

The Playoffs will be interesting no doubt.

[Jericho613 74]

This game was more on Rafalski and the defense than the goaltending. I'm not worried about the Blue Jackets in the first round if it comes to that, cuz we'll have the demolition man back to stop Mason in the playoffs. Mason can't stop pucks if Holmstrom is in front of him blocking his vision and tipping pucks in. Franzen and Cleary just aren't as good as Holmstrom in front of the net.

[Electrophile 3,554]

It will be ugly to look on the stats now after two blowouts... datsyuk led the league in +- for a few days, was third in points, lidström looked like norris nick, kronwall picked up his game... all for nothing... it's all s*** again... now it's either start over again or fall deeper in the s***.

Your positivity and optimism are refreshing. Tell me again, what team do you root for? Because to be frank, you always post more when we lose than when we win. And when we win, you always find something to ***** about.

Why don't you go be offensive to another group of people that post on this board.....maybe you can pick on Canadians this time instead of women.

[Guest MrSandMan]

Well the same defense plays infront of conklin... I hate to beat a dead horse but it has to be done

Right, and the same defense that played last Saturday night's game against the Preds. That D.

[gcom007 1,465]

The Norris Trophy, last I checked was an individual award. Nick has won in years where we didn't do squat in the playoffs.

It helps that voting occurs before the playoffs begin...

[Guest Shoreline]

I didn't defend Osgood at all early in the season. I thought most of his '08 starts were rough as can be. I haven't defended everything in '09. I'm not even saying he played great tonight and the D screwed him over. I'm saying the defense was 10X worse than Osgood could've possibly been tonight and they have been again and again lately. Osgood's been slowly improving in '09 despite the atrocious defensive play. I'm not saying he's playing great, but he's been improving while the defense has been getting worse. Tonight, and last week especially, the defense was just abysmal. The defense collectively played a worse game tonight than Osgood has played this year and that's saying a lot.

I've just watched all of the goals again multiple times. Again, like even the goalie-hating media has noted, you can't fault Osgood for much in this game. Go read back in my posts through this whole season. You'll see that I have no problem calling Osgood or Conklin out when they deserve it. I've done it plenty this year, and far more so for Osgood. The goalies have been getting left hung out to dry over and over lately. They're bound to fail miserably and again, when these awful plays are happening so perpetually, even the media struggles to knock the goalies.

What is most ridiculous to me again is that even if one says Osgood played a bad game, how can you not say the defense played a FAR worse game?!? And why aren't you talking about that???

People are too quick to bash Osgood even when he plays better. Sadly some fans have it out for players on their own team and have less patience than an 5 year old kid with ADD running up the walls after candy. That's the way the bandwagon goes.

[gcom007 1,465]

Actually, I'm not a Osgood fan. Never been of fan of Osgood. I am a fan of the Red Wings and a fan of winning the cup. That is why I support Osgood in goal because he gives us the best chance with the options we currently have.

With that said, our Defense sucks and Babs needs to step up and nip the problem or we're done for. That's teh bottom line.

To support this, I'll add that last year he was all about Hasek and minimized Osgood's play in the regular season compared to what Dom could be in the playoffs. He's NOT an Osgood fan. He's not really a hater, but he's not anywhere near the "marry me Ozzzzgoood lkdfjasdf" crowd either.

[puckbags 863]

f*** when do the playoffs start so we can start playing with some intensity !!

YAWWWWWN !!! Some nights we just look bored out there...I'm not gonna defend the way we played tonight but come playoff time this team will have the players in the lineup we should (no cap) and we will sort this inconsistent play out.

[Barrie 900]

I feel bad for Ozzie.

[Duck Guy 86]

Right, and the same defense that played last Saturday night's game against the Preds. That D.

Ok...You cant point to ONE game and say hey look conkiln / D sucks.. Just like you cant point to one game where a team like the wild score 8 goals and say hey look there offense is a juggernaut.

[gcom007 1,465]

Well the same defense plays infront of conklin... I hate to beat a dead horse but it has to be done

Conklin's stats are inflated because he's got quite a few shutouts against junk teams and started in some games where the team played completely up to their potential. He's had plenty of stinker games too and a boatload of 3-4 goal games. Go look at the game log. It's not near as pretty consistently as his stats suggest. And I'm not saying Osgood's stats or game by games should thrill you this season by any stretch. But the fact that anyone thinks that going with a totally unproven guy like Conklin with inconsistent numbers is infinitely better off than going with a guy having a shaky season who won his second Cup 9 months ago is out of their minds. I'm not saying Osgood is playing well, but Conklin is absolutely not playing well enough to warrant any sort of elevated confidence in him. Neither goalie has played great this year the whole way through.

But again...

More so, neither goalie has gotten much help and heaven knows what team will show up to play in front of them any given night.