Ken Holland: Ozzie Will Be Ready For Round 2

[Mike 0]

Just a quick update on the Wings' day off: GM Ken Holland said that goaltender Chris Osgood will be ready to play in Game 1 of the next round.

Holland said Osgood felt a twinge of pain at one point in Thursday's game but it's nothing sigificant. He said he expects Osgood to practice Saturday, but that he wouldn't be surprised if he took the next couple of days off just to be safe (they won't practice Sunday).

"I talked to (trainer) Piet Van Zant, it was no big issue after the game,'' Holland said. "He'll be in the net for Game 1 of the next series.''

Kris Draper, who's missed six games with an upper-body injury. will be sent for further testing prior to Game 1 of the next series.

"I think he's very close for the start of the next series,'' Holland said.

Nothing new on defenseman Andreas Lilja. Holland said he is feeling better but still not at the point where he can practice.

MLive

[EuroTwin 240]

Ozzie looked better in the third than he did in the second, but I am grateful they have a bit of a rest ahead of them.

If they say he's good to go, he's good to go.

[stormboy 47]

yeah, if he's in any kind of pain, i'm glad he's got a few extra days off. we don't want them to get rusty, but i guess in this situation it would be better if chi-cgy went to seven, eh?

also, i'm honestly not too sure we want draper back. who sits? malts/kopecky? because it sure has hell better not be helm. i realize the kid is one of our two minus-rated players on the team right now, but i honestly cannot see draper being any better. helm is zipping around out there throwing big hits. i'm honestly really happy with him in the game right now.

[ltgator333 3]

yeah, if he's in any kind of pain, i'm glad he's got a few extra days off. we don't want them to get rusty, but i guess in this situation it would be better if chi-cgy went to seven, eh?

also, i'm honestly not too sure we want draper back. who sits? malts/kopecky? because it sure has hell better not be helm. i realize the kid is one of our two minus-rated players on the team right now, but i honestly cannot see draper being any better. helm is zipping around out there throwing big hits. i'm honestly really happy with him in the game right now.

I agree I don't really want to see Helm sit, speed kills and he's got it in abundance. I'd like to see Drapes back in though- toss a coin between Kopy and Malts to see who sits.

[Sebastian 0]

I would rather see malts sit cuz when Helm hits i also see Kopay starting to hitting

[titanium2 867]

I agree I don't really want to see Helm sit, speed kills and he's got it in abundance. I'd like to see Drapes back in though- toss a coin between Kopy and Malts to see who sits.

Among those who make up Helm's line, only Kopy has an assist. That line just doesn't score goals.

Helm is a minus only because of Game 4 and you could argue that both of those goals were the result of bad decisions by the defensemen. Lebda was most definitely at fault for pinching too early and gave the Jackets an odd man rush. Kronwall looked as if he was supposed to cover Modin on the tying goal.

[titanium2 867]

I would rather see malts sit cuz when Helm hits i also see Kopay starting to hitting

A line of Kopy-Helm-Leino would be nice to see.

[Echolalia 2,961]

I feel like the Wings organization give injured players more time off than other teams (which I think is a great move)

[Guest mindfly]

Yeah wings let injured players more time off for sure ................... i don't like it very much in the playoffs you should be able to play with minor injuries... draper has a minor one yet he is resting... wings in a nutshell

[hillbillywingsfan 794]

cortisone injections do wonders=)

[Chunkylover 26]

Too bad about Lilja. He's had a good season and would be fit well beside Ericsson. Especially against either possible second round opponent.

Glad to see Ozzie isn't too terribly injured. He looked bad in the second but it looked like he did some stretching or something in the intermission. Maybe a shot of cortizone. Guess he needs to adopt Hasek's pregame stretching routine.

Drapes has played wing at various times this season hasn't he? If necessary put him on Helm's wing that way you have two good face-off guys. Rotate Malts and Kopy.

[Superted 0]

Keep Helm, but Draper needs to come back.

One word: Faceoffs

[Rivalred 630]

Yeah wings let injured players more time off for sure ................... i don't like it very much in the playoffs you should be able to play with minor injuries... draper has a minor one yet he is resting... wings in a nutshell

False.

#96's groin was bothering him throughout the entire playoffs last year, he was getting "shots" in between periods. In fact, he had surgery this year to correct the chronic injury. Draper was not a "key" component to win against the CBJs. Other players were able to fill his role for the most part.

[Dabura 12,232]

Keep Helm, but Draper needs to come back.

One word: Faceoffs

qft

Maltby or Kopecky sits.

[HanKarin40 7]

cortisone injections do wonders=)

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.