The road to success is always under construction.

[Guest Shoreline]

Were you around last season? EVERYTHING people are saying about osgood they said about Hasek last season, that it was the team's fault and not hasek's. I'm just drawing parallels between last year and this year. Believe it or not, Hasek was right behind Osgood in GAA last year. He was tied for #3 in GAA, ozzie was #1. So the #3 goalie in GAA got pulled last year in the playoffs, what do you say about the goalie ranked #40?

Osgood's wins come from the offense scoring to cover his GA. Yes, wins are wins, but we won't be able to win games 6-5 and 5-4 like we have so often this season. That's the whole point. The regular season isn't the playoffs. The amount of points we have now verses what we had last year means nothing. It's how you get the points. By your logic the 95-96 red wings should have gone 16-0 in the playoffs because they had so many wins. What don't you understand?

Hey, you like harping on stats, right?

Here are the parallels you're drawing: You're saying because Ozzie sucks this season, he will perform s***ty in the playoffs. However, the mistake you're making is when using Hasek as your comparison is that HASEK HAD A GOOD SEASON DESPITE FLAWS, especially in the stupid stats you like to harp about, GAA and Save %. Hasek was a .90 save % and a 2.14 GAA. Hey, there's your stats! Look how much that meant in the playoffs. Jack. s***. So guess what, I guess how one performs in the playoffs is how one performs in the playoffs.

What wins mean in the regular season is what wins mean in the regular season. What wins in the playoffs means is wins in the playoffs. Read carefully, please, and let's hope you actually comprehend my post correctly this time, because I'm suggesting you cannot compare the regular season with the playoffs, which you just proved with your Hasek nonsense, yet ironically trying to suggest Ozzie's regular season numbers mean anything in the playoffs. This is where you people so focused on stats fail.

[Dano33 41]

Tim thomas is a UFA at the end of the year, as is Kari Lehtonen. Thats just two i can think of off the top of my head

I don't see Boston letting Thomas go. Lehtonen does nothing for me and his numbers are comparable to Osgood's. There just aren't any goalies availible that are worth spending money on.

[OsGOD 3]

Osgood's wins come from the offense scoring to cover his GA.

isnt that a statment made by say a master of the obvious? Of course the offense has to score goals to win (I beg you to offer up one example of a goalie winning without the offense/defense scoring goals to cover his GA). and whopty do... scoring 4-5 goals a game in the post season to cover a 3.3gaa is what we did on several nights last playoffs... why should this time around be any different. not to mention we have a lethal scoring threat in Hossa this time around.

Both of our goalies are more than adequate for the forwards to cover the spread... It makes the winning all the sweeter when we can do it with a team that isn't viewed as the best in the league (also meaning the goalies that aren't on the top of the stats charts) We have to play better when there is a sense of urgency (I mean real urgency, not the OMG we might get shut out by the last place team in a meaningless game) So far when we had to rise to the occasion against opponents we have been able to do so collectively

[Hockeytown_Ryan 122]

I don't see Boston letting Thomas go. Lehtonen does nothing for me and his numbers are comparable to Osgood's. There just aren't any goalies availible that are worth spending money on.

Well he is a netminder..... Not a Miracle Worker.

I can't get over the fact that people are "OK" with Osgood being our number 1 in the post season,

It blows me away that we as fans can't all see that he has not shown he can handle the responsibility

of performing at playoff level. the last game vs NSH was a playoff type game for them and we failed as a team,

But Osgood should stand up and shoulder some of it as well as all the other games he's not been sharp in

the regular season.

The team feeds off each other What has Chris done to give his team a spark? What has he done to show that he wants to win? Take time off and "Get Focused" that worked for about 3 games.

[OsGOD 3]

It blows me away that we as fans can't all see that he has not shown he can handle the responsibility

of performing at playoff level. the last game vs NSH was a playoff type game for them and we failed as a team,

do explain why that game was a playoff type game for us? is it because we might be facing them in a few weeks... because all i see it as is a game in which we need to stay healthy and do what we need to do to enter into the playoffs with a full healthy roster. Then and only then will it be playoff style games for us.

How can you perform at playoff level when you aren't even in a playoff game. The intensity is 100x that of a regular season game in game 1 (from a fans perspective) i can't imagine the feeling it would be for a player. With that said, there is no reason for the wings to be playing balls out kill yourself hockey right now (leave that to the other teams still fighting for that lowly 8th seed) this is our time to focus on the games coming up in a few weeks.

if we were the team fighting for a spot then you better believe i would be concerned, but to call these final games a playoff type game... that couldn't be farther from the truth.

Edited March 30, 2009 by OsGOD

[puckloo39 5,686]

Well he is a netminder..... Not a Miracle Worker.

I can't get over the fact that people are "OK" with Osgood being our number 1 in the post season,

It blows me away that we as fans can't all see that he has not shown he can handle the responsibility

of performing at playoff level. the last game vs NSH was a playoff type game for them and we failed as a team,

But Osgood should stand up and shoulder some of it as well as all the other games he's not been sharp in

the regular season.

The team feeds off each other What has Chris done to give his team a spark? What has he done to show that he wants to win? Take time off and "Get Focused" that worked for about 3 games.

I think you're in the wrong thread. Good luck with this reasoning.

[Hockeytown_Ryan 122]

do explain why that game was a playoff type game for us? is it because we might be facing them in a few weeks... because all i see it as is a game in which we need to stay healthy and do what we need to do to enter into the playoffs with a full healthy roster. Then and only then will it be playoff style games for us.

How can you perform at playoff level when you aren't even in a playoff game. The intensity is 100x that of a regular season game in game 1 (from a fans perspective) i can't imagine the feeling it would be for a player. With that said, there is no reason for the wings to be playing balls out kill yourself hockey right now (leave that to the other teams still fighting for that lowly 8th seed) this is our time to focus on the games coming up in a few weeks.

if we were the team fighting for a spot then you better believe i would be concerned, but to call these final games a playoff type game... that couldn't be farther from the truth.

I didnt say US I stated THEM meaning NSH

AND YES WE DO need to play well, We need to take some kind of Mental advantage into a series with them IF we face them...... Right now they know they can score 8 goals in a game vs us and we've shown we can do NOTHING about it ........

Edited March 30, 2009 by Hockeytown_Ryan

[Hockeytown_Ryan 122]

I think you're in the wrong thread. Good luck with this reasoning.

I may have been may not have been Can you deny ANY of it?

[OsGOD 3]

I didnt say US I stated THEM meaning NSH

well then do tell why that affected us at all...i mean why are you saying we failed?

if anything we didn't give them any sort of "practice" for the post season.... good to know they played their asses off and we played 1/2 ass and they only beat us 4-3

Hope to see them in the post season...

[Hockeytown_Ryan 122]

well then do tell why that affected us at all...i mean why are you saying we failed?

if anything we didn't give them any sort of "practice" for the post season.... good to know they played their asses off and we played 1/2 ass and they only beat us 4-3

Hope to see them in the post season...

Ok how bout we threw BOTH goalies at them in one game and still LOST 8-2? Gave up a 2-1 3rd period lead and let walk the f*** all over us....again...... What kind of advantage do we have if we face them in a Playoff series?? They have shown they can score and Win with and with out Arnott..... We've shown we can give them games any place anytime...... if i were NSH Id be Loving the chance to play us in a series this year...

[puckloo39 5,686]

I may have been may not have been Can you deny ANY of it?

I'm not disagreeing with you.

[Hockeytown_Ryan 122]

LOL, Classic!

Okay, give me Babcock's cell phone number and I'll call him and pull some strings. I'll rectify this situation by telling Babcock that we shouldn't play Ozzie in the post-season, k. Will this make you happy?

Nope Not one bit... what would make me happy is for this team from the goaltending to the Defense get their Asses in gear and start playing hockey...... thats what you can call Babcock and tell him for me...

[OsGOD 3]

Ok how bout we threw BOTH goalies at them in one game and still LOST 8-2? Gave up a 2-1 3rd period lead and let walk the f*** all over us....again...... What kind of advantage do we have if we face them in a Playoff series?? They have shown they can score and Win with and with out Arnott..... We've shown we can give them games any place anytime...... if i were NSH Id be Loving the chance to play us in a series this year...

all i am saying is they are still fighting for a lower tier seed... most likely right up to the bitter end of the season. You better hope to god if you are a nashville fan they are throwing everything they have at you.... Our team on the other hand isn't even really playing these last few games or so... and they barely beat us this last game.

We have beat them 5-3 and 6-2 this season and their post season track record is far from stellar.

Perhaps with our recent lack of play and their busting ass we are giving them a false sense of security in the first round?

[Hockeytown_Ryan 122]

all i am saying is they are still fighting for a lower tier seed... most likely right up to the bitter end of the season. You better hope to god if you are a nashville fan they are throwing everything they have at you.... Our team on the other hand isn't even really playing these last few games or so... and they barely beat us this last game.

We have beat them 5-3 and 6-2 this season and their post season track record is far from stellar.

Perhaps with our recent lack of play and their busting ass we are giving them a false sense of security in the first round?

Oh Man I hope so.....

I would love nothing else to see us sweep them (if faced)

I Mean no dis-respect here, But we all have the same thing at heart. Im not trying to create enemies with my opinions on these subjects, like everyone else I call them like i see them.

[kylee 727]

Chris Osgood in the Stanley Cup Final:

Ty Conklin in the Stanley Cup Final:

[Wombat 26]

I am in general a big fan of statistics, but I know the limitation of using them. They help tell a story, and form some of the facts. Using goal statistics, it seems like Jokenin in Calgary is a huge success... you know, until you look at their W/L record since he's shown up.

So what can we see about Osgood this year? Clearly, his statistics are horrible. But we have to couple that with actually watching the games. As of late, and the stats back this up, Ozzie has been playing better. I believe March is his only sub-3.00 GA and plus-.900 S% month of the year. He's improved over earlier in the season and I see him allowing far fewer bad goals.

The problem is that he's been playing OK, but not great. Overall, I see the issue on a comfort level. Last year, regardless of what the statistics were, I felt really comfortable with any game Ozzie started, and I felt uncomfortable in any game Hasek started. This year, I'm uncomfortable seeing Ozzie and comfortable seeing Conklin. Do I just have unrealistic expectations of the starters? No... they just aren't/weren't passing the smell test. I do not feel confident in not only how Ozzie plays this year, but also how the rest of the TEAM plays with him in net. I sense that there are far more breakdowns when Ozzie plays.

I support Osgood and I won't be terribly upset if he starts Game 1 of the first round. But I will be upset if Babcock doesn't keep the quick hook when necessary. Last year it wasn't necessarily that Hasek sucked in the playoffs... Babcock just said, "The puck needs to not go into our net." The team wasn't playing great with him too. This year, if the same occurs, make the switch and go Conklin.

Off topic but I wanted to respond to this as well...

problem is without Hossa AND Franzen we lose a huge chunck of our Goals For... sure we could possibly cut down our Goal Against... but what we gain in the Goals Against category will be lost even more in the Goals For sticking us in the same "if not worse" scenario.

It's not as simple as subtracting the missing players' goals from the total. You have to consider that other players will be getting their former playing time and will be producing more points. It is feasible to lose major offensive players and still end up with a better goal differential, even with less talent.

[ltgator333 3]

So Ozzie wasn't a good back up for us last year?

Maybe you forgot that Red Wings back-up [Ozzie] won our #1 goalie a cup ring?

I didn't say that. Ozzie played fine last year. Read some posts before you go feet first up someone's

[OsGOD 3]

It's not as simple as subtracting the missing players' goals from the total. You have to consider that other players will be getting their former playing time and will be producing more points. It is feasible to lose major offensive players and still end up with a better goal differential, even with less talent.

I know its not that simple... but i highly doubt that missing Hossa and Franzen for an entire season would play out with the same record. Obviously some players will step up and account for the missing 65+ goals those two combined have scored... they kinda have to if they were missing. We proved we could win games without hossa and Franzen during stints this season... but i fear that wouldnt work for the long haul of the season.

[Dano33 41]

Well he is a netminder..... Not a Miracle Worker.

I can't get over the fact that people are "OK" with Osgood being our number 1 in the post season,

It blows me away that we as fans can't all see that he has not shown he can handle the responsibility

of performing at playoff level. the last game vs NSH was a playoff type game for them and we failed as a team,

But Osgood should stand up and shoulder some of it as well as all the other games he's not been sharp in

the regular season.

The team feeds off each other What has Chris done to give his team a spark? What has he done to show that he wants to win? Take time off and "Get Focused" that worked for about 3 games.

I am ok with Osgood in the playoffs, he is our best option in my opinion and i don't care what the number say. The point i was trying to make, however, was that people were willing to lose Hossa and possibly one of either Hudler or Franzen to get a guy like Lehtonen? That's insane, losing one or two top goal scorers for a guy who is no better than what we have.

[Wombat 26]

I know its not that simple... but i highly doubt that missing Hossa and Franzen for an entire season would play out with the same record. Obviously some players will step up and account for the missing 65+ goals those two combined have scored... they kinda have to if they were missing. We proved we could win games without hossa and Franzen during stints this season... but i fear that wouldnt work for the long haul of the season.

Fair enough. I doubt the team could match the lost firepower, however they could end up with even a better record if it meant they shored up the defensive end of the game. I believe the original poster of this sidetrack either said or meant to say that the Wings should let Hossa walk and keep Franzen.

I do hope Conklin is ready if he gets tapped on the shoulder in the playoffs.

[Hockeytown_Ryan 122]

I am ok with Osgood in the playoffs, he is our best option in my opinion and i don't care what the number say. The point i was trying to make, however, was that people were willing to lose Hossa and possibly one of either Hudler or Franzen to get a guy like Lehtonen? That's insane, losing one or two top goal scorers for a guy who is no better than what we have.

In a round about way I was agreeing with you , Lehtonen does play for ATL. Might do better else where

Also I read somewhere Giggy could get dealt.. He has a NTC but if Babs talks to him??? Its a option. I dont know how much he makes but Im sure there might be a way to do it if there is interest i spose

It would take a Roster player tho

Edited March 30, 2009 by Hockeytown_Ryan

[Guest Shoreline]

Chris Osgood in the Stanley Cup Final:

Ty Conklin in the Stanley Cup Final:

QFT. I want both goalies to succeed with the Wings, but I always go with the proven winning formula first.

Edited March 30, 2009 by Shoreline

[Hockeytown_Ryan 122]

Chris Osgood in the Stanley Cup Final:

Ty Conklin in the Stanley Cup Final:

I get that you go with what works..... But don't Forget Conks was there too in that top vid.... Although he was watching and listening from the Locker room sitting next to Hossa A taste and being sooooo close Might spark a Nice un-beatable streak....... Always the Runner up never the cup holder

Edited March 30, 2009 by Hockeytown_Ryan

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Got no choice but to trust Osgood and Conklin. Barring injury, that's who the netminders are going to be in the playoffs.

And before the Osgood bashers crucify me or accuse me of thoughts that he should be in the hall of fame or is 100% elite or whatever else, a disclaimer that I get that he hasn't played that great for most of the season. He has certainly played his part in losses, but you cannot tell me in a straight face that he is ultimately to blame for some of these recent losses. The defense has just been atrocious at times still and is leaving him out to dry. One-on-one, not a lot of netminders are going to consistently stop some of the shots that Osgood has given up. Two perfect examples yeseterday of the Sullivan and Smithson (?) goals, basically one-on-one after terrible defensive coverage or a turnove.

Once again, before I get yelled at I get that Osgood hasn't played great or stolen many games for the Wings. However put any goalie good/bad on the Wings this year with the sloppy defense at times, their stats are going to go downhill.

There is still time to sort this stuff out, games in the playoffs are usually with fewer scoring and tighter defense. The Wings aren't in any trouble missing the playoffs so it's just a formality that they'll be in as a #1 or #2 seed. Whatever.

I have no problem going in with Osgood as the starter this year even through all the hoopla/defensive mishaps. If things fall apart quickly, whether it is primarily Osgood's fault with a soft goal or two, or the defense primarily hangs him out to dry, I do hope a goalie switch comes sooner than later.

I trust both the goalies.

[Z and D for the C 712]

Hasek was a .90 save % and a 2.14 GAA. Hey, there's your stats! Look how much that meant in the playoffs. Jack. s***. So guess what, I guess how one performs in the playoffs is how one performs in the playoffs.

That is exactly what I mean! Hasek in 08 is in the exact situaion as Osgood is now, EXCEPT OSGOOD HAS PLAYED FAR WORSE ALL YEAR LONG. YET SOMEHOW YOU DON'T SEE THE EXACT SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO HASEK HAPPENING TO OSGOOD? THAT is what I am talking about when I bring up stats. If this was the Red Wing's first year of existence I would be saying this right now. I wouldn't have brought up stats AT ALL. I am NOT saying that because Osgood is #40 in GAA he won't perform in the playoffs, I'm saying because a legendary goalie ranked #3 in GAA didn't perform in the playoffs, how do you expect an above average at best goalie who's play this year got him ranked #40 in GAA to perform in the playoffs? This year is the same as last year and I'm pulling it all together into one conclusion, I'm not isolating this year.

And if you think a goalie, one that has played horrible from the start of the seaon, who is only playing a little less horrible at the end, can suddenly become a great goalie in the playoffs, especially given what we saw first hand last year, you're delusional. You don't play s***ty in the regular season and win the cup in the playoffs. A goalies job is the same in the playoffs as it is in the regular season. It's everything else that changes.

If Osgood starts in the playoffs, he is guaranteed not to be playing in the third round (and that is either because a. he got pulled in favor of conklin or b. we didn't make it that far, most likely due to his goaltending). Quote me on that when the time comes.