Conklin to start Thursday; Rafalski out again

[The Secret 304]

bulls***, the defense would look a lot better if they had confidence in a goalie actually stopping a shot. You think we went from the best to one the worst in a year? It's much more logical to think 1 player has regressed not 6. Not to mention that no matter what there will be shots on goal and to say Ozzy isn't at fault for letting in so many soft goals is ridiculous.

I agree with you ben. f*** the guy is good for 1 or more softies per game and they are never when we have a good lead, they are almost always at crucial points when we need him to do his job and make the stop. Defenses will make mistakes and so will the goalies but the goalie has to be on the spot for all the stops he NEEDS to make. No-one ******* about the goals he had no chance on but on all the many many that are stoppable that squeak past him. I don't care evrn that he makes 3 high-light reel saves just before he lets in the back-breaker. Plus, its the same D that plays in front of Conks but the outcomes are most often drastically different... But there is no way of showing the Osgood blowers the truth.

[Superman54 91]

Well, all the best luck to Conklin. Really sucks about Lilja though, luckily we have Ericcson to fill in the void, seems to be doing a really good job too.

[XxGoWingsxX 0]

It's Conks's chance to shine. If he comes in and plays a real good game, i'd expect ozzie to be riding the pine pony through the rest of the season and into the playoffs, given that conks stays consistent

[Z and D for the C 712]

I think if a team doesn't have confidence in their goalie they try to do to much and they actually make it worse.

[The Secret 304]

So let me get this straight... a defense with more confidence in their goalie would NOT pass the puck across the crease or not make lame ass lazy attempts to clear the puck out of the zone? or give the puck up inside the circles...

Have you watched the amount of Errors ALL six D-men have been making or are you too focused on watching Ozzie that you negate to see the rest of the players?

Seems to me that D-men with Lost confidence in their goalies actually play harder and work harder to make sure the puck doesn't get to close to said goalie. The wings D is guilty of far to many own-zone turnovers... those are not the fault of goaltender.

Not to mention just all around sloppy play... for instance like last game with Erikkson taking the puck up and hitting kopeckys skate for a quick and easy turn over and possibly a goal (i can't remember for sure)

Defensive lapses hurt for sure but there are other players that can hopefully make up the difference and one of those players is always the goalie... its the nature of the position. When a goalie lets in a goal (or more) that should be a routine save, especially in a close game, it sucks the energy out of the entire team, the crowd and also changes the momentum to favour the opponent.... it does more damage over-all then just on the score board.

Edited March 31, 2009 by The Secret

[I Red Wings I 40]

Bottom line is, Babcock said himself, Detroit does not need spectacular goal tending to win games, just show up and make the few saves that they need. Get the job done, Ozzie has not done that. The D has been terrible with the giveaways, but, Detroit is 3rd in the league with 27.8 SOGA and 10th worst with 222 GA.

[Guest mindfly]

They need to get the 50th win though then they can rest, why ruin that 4th straight 50 win season with a sloppy ending

[YoungGuns1340 1]

We need Conklin to be our starter come playof. We don't want the Conklin as back-up curse following us into the playoffs.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

bulls***, the defense would look a lot better if they had confidence in a goalie actually stopping a shot. You think we went from the best to one the worst in a year? It's much more logical to think 1 player has regressed not 6. Not to mention that no matter what there will be shots on goal and to say Ozzy isn't at fault for letting in so many soft goals is ridiculous.

I totally agree. I am tire of blaming the defense for all the soft goals let in. Sure our D hasn't played as well this year. But most other teams have a poorer defensive core than ours - and their goalie doesn't give up 4-5 goals per game on shots in the low-mid 20s. No team can win with GT like that.

And on topic, as long as we are coasting into the 2 seed, Lidstrom needs a few games off, maybe Datsyuk too.....

[Zion 93]

God I don't care who plays goalie I just want a 60 minute game.

QFT.

[interminded 1]

We need Conklin to be our starter come playof. We don't want the Conklin as back-up curse following us into the playoffs.

Yes, because the last time the 'back-up' had to take over, the result was disastrous. ...

[Guest Shoreline]

They need to get the 50th win though then they can rest, why ruin that 4th straight 50 win season with a sloppy ending

If they get stuck at 49, this entire season is a bust and they should call it quits.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Yes, because the last time the 'back-up' had to take over, the result was disastrous. ...

If you have no idea what I'm referring to, then you shouldn't respond to it.

[Broken 16 381]

original....******!

Call out unoriginality with an unoriginal response... two wrongs don't make a right.

[Wingsallwin 0]

I totally agree our defenses played poorly some of games. However, that happens sometimes. As people said Nick was out of his play with Rafalski, Kronwall in the beginning of the season after we lost to the Pnes 7-6, they have been reforming their play styles and become far better than the past.

I am the guy who criticized Osgood's poor performance throughtout the season but still wished he would bounce back. However, he did not and he did not make his own chances from many given chances from the team. When Osgood is in the net, the Wings look to make more giveaways and turnovers than when Conks is in the net. Defenses are probably pressured too much because if they make mistakes, Osgood is not in favor to make the save.

However, When Conks is in the net, they play far better and it has been proved throughout more than 40 games. If Osgood kept improving his play since the game against the Thrashers, this news or story would not show up because Osgood has much playoff experience.

Goalies have to be the best jewelry in the playoff on PK, and changing the momentum. While Conks has done that many times this season, I cannot think Osgood has done that. He might have played some good games but those are not enough to prove his play this season.

According to the stats, we allowed almost the fewest shots; if we consider the Wild allows the fewest shots according to their boring system, it might come up clearly. I might put the quantity over the quality but that means goalies have better chances to win because mathmetically, as other goalies face more shots, Osgood did not have to face that many shots but his sv percentage is absolutely atrocious. Then, there is no explanation for Osgood and Conklin. Conks also has played with exactly SAME defense men but his GAA and SV percentage is far better, also the number of shut outs.

Ozzie's tremedous playoff experience may help him in the playoff but before the experience, goalies have to have good seasons. Therefore, it is absolutely reduntant to recall Ozzie's career playoff performances. I am also saying I am not fully confident in Conks but that guy is playing enough solid and giving us chance to win except for few games; but this happens to every goalie even Brodeur.

It is not like who has more experience or better. By the flat looked stats and other circumstances, Conks will provide us better chance to win the cup this season instead of Ozzy.

[Broken 16 381]

I think a very telling stat would be the PK% for each goalie. Assuming the whole "your goalie needs to be your best penalty killer" angle is true. I don't even know where to begin to figure that out... but I think it would be interesting.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

I totally agree our defenses played poorly some of games. However, that happens sometimes. As people said Nick was out of his play with Rafalski, Kronwall in the beginning of the season after we lost to the Pnes 7-6, they have been reforming their play styles and become far better than the past.

I am the guy who criticized Osgood's poor performance throughtout the season but still wished he would bounce back. However, he did not and he did not make his own chances from many given chances from the team. When Osgood is in the net, the Wings look to make more giveaways and turnovers than when Conks is in the net. Defenses are probably pressured too much because if they make mistakes, Osgood is not in favor to make the save.

However, When Conks is in the net, they play far better and it has been proved throughout more than 40 games. If Osgood kept improving his play since the game against the Thrashers, this news or story would not show up because Osgood has much playoff experience.

Goalies have to be the best jewelry in the playoff on PK, and changing the momentum. While Conks has done that many times this season, I cannot think Osgood has done that. He might have played some good games but those are not enough to prove his play this season.

According to the stats, we allowed almost the fewest shots; if we consider the Wild allows the fewest shots according to their boring system, it might come up clearly. I might put the quantity over the quality but that means goalies have better chances to win because mathmetically, as other goalies face more shots, Osgood did not have to face that many shots but his sv percentage is absolutely atrocious. Then, there is no explanation for Osgood and Conklin. Conks also has played with exactly SAME defense men but his GAA and SV percentage is far better, also the number of shut outs.

Ozzie's tremedous playoff experience may help him in the playoff but before the experience, goalies have to have good seasons. Therefore, it is absolutely reduntant to recall Ozzie's career playoff performances. I am also saying I am not fully confident in Conks but that guy is playing enough solid and giving us chance to win except for few games; but this happens to every goalie even Brodeur.

It is not like who has more experience or better. By the flat looked stats and other circumstances, Conks will provide us better chance to win the cup this season instead of Ozzy.

Good post. I'm not a huge Conklin fan either - but it is all we've got right now. The writing is on the wall for Osgood - has been for months - but I too believed he would pull it together. Didn't happen. I hate that the Wings rarely have the #1 guy who makes it through the season and the POs, but for some reason for being such a great organization we just don't have a franchise goalie - or even a guy who is the starter for several seasons in a row. It drives me nuts. And here we are again a few weeks from the POs with NO clearcut starting goalie. I suppose all teams must have an Achilles heel and this is ours.

[boomer 0]

I agree with you ben. f*** the guy is good for 1 or more softies per game and they are never when we have a good lead, they are almost always at crucial points when we need him to do his job and make the stop. Defenses will make mistakes and so will the goalies but the goalie has to be on the spot for all the stops he NEEDS to make. No-one ******* about the goals he had no chance on but on all the many many that are stoppable that squeak past him. I don't care evrn that he makes 3 high-light reel saves just before he lets in the back-breaker. Plus, its the same D that plays in front of Conks but the outcomes are most often drastically different... But there is no way of showing the Osgood blowers the truth.

There's 3 or 4 in cahoots, I don't even acknowledge them at this point. However more important are your comments which are bang on ,we need the team to have a sense that their netminder can at times pick up the slack and not falter when the D is having a breakdown. I hope Conklin can string a run that picks the team up and he leads us into the playoffs. If not well I'll be looking forward to chewing some fat with the "blowers".

[boomer 0]

Good post. I'm not a huge Conklin fan either - but it is all we've got right now. The writing is on the wall for Osgood - has been for months - but I too believed he would pull it together. Didn't happen. I hate that the Wings rarely have the #1 guy who makes it through the season and the POs, but for some reason for being such a great organization we just don't have a franchise goalie - or even a guy who is the starter for several seasons in a row. It drives me nuts. And here we are again a few weeks from the POs with NO clearcut starting goalie. I suppose all teams must have an Achilles heel and this is ours.

The reason is simple his name is Ken Holland. Fans of other teams comment to me often that they can't fathom how Detroit has not gone to get a goaltender that mirrors the teams strength ; I just give them my standard answer "goaltending on the cheap in Detroit" What else can you say with all the big longterm contracts that Holland likes to dole out. Wait until the cap shrinks further those type of contract can only come back to haunt you. And by then Holland will be long gone!

[Doc Holiday 0]

The reason is simple his name is Ken Holland. Fans of other teams comment to me often that they can't fathom how Detroit has not gone to get a goaltender that mirrors the teams strength ; I just give them my standard answer "goaltending on the cheap in Detroit" What else can you say with all the big longterm contracts that Holland likes to dole out. Wait until the cap shrinks further those type of contract can only come back to haunt you. And by then Holland will be long gone!

Dumbest thing I've ever read.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

The reason is simple his name is Ken Holland. Fans of other teams comment to me often that they can't fathom how Detroit has not gone to get a goaltender that mirrors the teams strength ; I just give them my standard answer "goaltending on the cheap in Detroit" What else can you say with all the big longterm contracts that Holland likes to dole out. Wait until the cap shrinks further those type of contract can only come back to haunt you. And by then Holland will be long gone!

Not sure where the Holland leaving stuff is coming from either....

Problem is we CANNOT go out and get a star goalie with the cap system - not w/o giving up something precious in return. Plus before the lockout, Holland did sign/trade for big name goalies - Hasek, Cujo - and we STILL didn't have a clearcut #1 save for '02 with Hasek. So it is not just about the cap, although that doesn't help. It's like a curse on the Red Wings that we will never have a long term clear cut #1 starting goalie. We have won 4 Cups though in this interim so obviously the Wings are getting away with it - I personally think we would have had more with better GT a few of those years, but cannot complain about the number of rings for sure....

Next season it starts all over again - our starter will surely be someone who has not played the position for us before.....

[cprice12 117]

Osgood's numbers against St. Louis this year are outstanding.

3-0-0 with a 1.63 GAA and a .943 save %

I'm glad he's not starting.

Conklin's numbers aren't much worse...but still.

[titanium2 867]

Picture of Conks. Did someone really make a sign that says "Frolov picks his nose"?

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section...mp;Profile=1053

[boomer 0]

Dumbest thing I've ever read.

Really that's why when you hear hockey commentators around the league continually mentioning how sub par the Detroit goaltending is and how their D is really going to have to step it up a few notches if they ever hope to repeat this year- I think it says it all what a joke its all become" goaltending on the cheap in Detroit ". Come on Doc wake up and smell the bourbon.

[lets go pavel 2]

This:

Dumbest thing I've ever read.

was in response to this (note the bold):

The reason is simple his name is Ken Holland. Fans of other teams comment to me often that they can't fathom how Detroit has not gone to get a goaltender that mirrors the teams strength ; I just give them my standard answer "goaltending on the cheap in Detroit" What else can you say with all the big longterm contracts that Holland likes to dole out. Wait until the cap shrinks further those type of contract can only come back to haunt you. And by then Holland will be long gone!

The implication is that Holland has knowingly set us up for failure and then plans on bailing out, a la Brian Burke. Do you have any evidence that this is in fact his plan? Because you are talking about a guy who has helped build the Wings into the most successful NHL franchise in recent memory. It's one thing to disagree with Holland's decisions, but it's another to suggest that he's intentionally harming the team.