Wings on pace for 105 points with a $33 million roster...

[Theophany 110]

Maybe he figures the league will spot us 6 points because of having to play with a heavily depleted line-up for most of the season. Seems fair to me.

How about a point for each week a top 6 forward/top 4 defender is out?

Oh wait, we'd have won the West already?

[PotbellyJoe 10]

All I care about are cups.

C's and up and Stanley are the only ones that get my attention...

[Guest zackmorris]

That would require 32 wins out of the remaining 48 games. 32-16 record to close out the regular season is far from an impossible feat but would require for this team to shake the injury bug and get on a serious roll.

2 wins for every 1 loss. That's not exactly impossible. It's arguable that we've got our worst hockey of the season out of us and we're starting to pull together.

[cjm502 165]

2 wins for every 1 loss. That's not exactly impossible. It's arguable that we've got our worst hockey of the season out of us and we're starting to pull together.

No, this is rock bottom. At least I hope it is...

[MCleveland89 122]

I have to admit, I was very unsure about Howard early this season. Now I feel much more comfortable with Howie than Ozzy when we play.

Couldn't agree more.

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

I have to admit, I was very unsure about Howard early this season. Now I feel much more comfortable with Howie than Ozzy when we play.

Doesn't hurt that Howard is playing against all of the sub-500 teams while Osgood has been starting against the playoff teams.

[Guest Shoreline]

But not a 5th straight 50win season....

Whoops, season's over guys, no fifth straight 50 win season. Nothing more to see here. Happy winter/spring/summer!

[Guest zackmorris]

Doesn't hurt that Howard is playing against all of the sub-500 teams while Osgood has been starting against the playoff teams.

Oh c'mon you've gotta be kidding

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

Oh c'mon you've gotta be kidding

Look at the teams they have both played for.

It is a lot easier to be confident in your goaltender when he is facing weaker competition. I think Howard has been doing great as a backup, but it isn't like he is Terry Sawchucking the league's best teams.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I will laugh when the Wings maybe go on an iffy 10-game stretch or a losing streak and fans in here go apes**t and turn on the team thinking we won't make the playoffs. It will happen.

[digitaljohn88 4]

Look at the teams they have both played for.

It is a lot easier to be confident in your goaltender when he is facing weaker competition. I think Howard has been doing great as a backup, but it isn't like he is Terry Sawchucking the league's best teams.

I agree, looking back at the schedule Howard has faced a lot of really, really lame teams lately with Ozzy getting the occasional better teams, but Howard has still been very good in a pseudo-starter role. The important thing is that he is winning all of the games that we should win. I'm sure he'll get a chance against Chicago to show us if he can handle the big games.

I think Osgood has been good too, albeit in limited time. I thought he made some huge saves against NJ especially considering he hadn't played in a few weeks, and he was stellar in Nashville. TBH, I'd rather have Ozzy in there playing great and winning games, but if Howard gets us into a playoff spot it works for me. Ozzy will just ninja the starting role and lead us to a cup anyway. Vintage 2008.

[VM1138 1,921]

The beginning of the season was frustrating as hell, but it seems they've gotten into a rhthym where they care again about playing hockey. And considering what we're missing, it's amazing we're a mere 6 points out of 1st place in the West. Insane, really. Let's hope they keep it up.

Looking at it that way (6 points out of 1st place) and considering we're missing our second line and a chunk of our defense plus half of our third line, this team is going to be scary good when they get healthy. If we make playoffs I feel like the Wings should be favorites to win the Cup, which I never would have called a month or two ago.

[thedisappearer 291]

It is a lot easier to be confident in your goaltender when he is facing weaker competition. I think Howard has been doing great as a backup, but it isn't like he is Terry Sawchucking the league's best teams.

Not that Howard is playing against world beaters, but Ozzie's last 4 starts are against Nashville twice, New Jersey, and Calgary. If you want to go further back, you are going to the first week of November. Ozzie isn't losing to DOMINANT teams.

[gcom007 1,465]

Imagine if we were playing with a $56 million dollar roster like everyone else, we'd be pushing 52+ points in 34 games and leading the entire league in the standings.

Blackhawks should be ecstatic they're going to be playing a $33 million dollar Red Wings roster, they may feel like they *might* have a *possible*chance* to win against us. Sure do hope they take us for granted.

I'm f'ing proud of this team. And congrats to Howard for being considered for team USA.

I seem to remember this team playing rather horribly in October with a (mostly) full roster. And to be honest, I'm not convinced that we'll really be so much better once we get everyone back. In fact, I'm starting to worry about it a bit. Guys are stepping up and taking on roles that weren't being filled before because they weren't getting the ice time to make the point. I think to some extent, we have some guys that are redundant and unnecessary.

Some will say I'm crazy, so be it.

I would rather have Eaves in the lineup than Flip right now.

I would rather have Miller in the lineup than Williams right now.

Are Flip and Williams bad? No. But I think Flip is a bit redundant and ultimately not as skilled as Eaves. I think Williams is inconsistent. I think in Miller and Eaves you've got guys that are on the up. With Eaves in particular, you've got a guy with a lot of skill who's had a rough start of a career. He's looking better and better as this season goes on though and I don't think you want to toy with his progress at this point. The guy has a whole lot of upside.

I'd gladly welcome back Franzen, Clearly, Kronwall and Ericsson. Oh, and obviously Z. But everyone else? At this point, I honestly like what I'm seeing from this team. I'm not convinced that a few of these other guys might not muck up some good things that are happening, not due to any real fault of their own other than they're just not necessarily the right pieces to the puzzle.

Again, we had the full team in October. They weren't gelling. Something was off. There were plenty of good players but this team was an absolute mess on so many levels. Part of that is October, but I really think part of it was due to the makeup of this team which was just awkward and unbalanced. Again, I think we've got some guys that have stepped up and started filling the holes we weren't even paying attention to earlier on. Adding Franzen and Kronwall alone will help tremendously with the offense, but other than that, I really like this team. Hell, I'm not even accounting for Datsyuk getting things going which I have no doubt he will.

The grass isn't always greener on the other side. After all, sometimes things that seemingly don't make sense work better than what makes sense. I think that's truly the overarching story of this season so far.

I like this team.

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

Not that Howard is playing against world beaters, but Ozzie's last 4 starts are against Nashville twice, New Jersey, and Calgary. If you want to go further back, you are going to the first week of November. Ozzie isn't losing to DOMINANT teams.

Nashville is ahead of us in the Central race (tied with Chicago in points), New Jersey is sitting on top of the Atlantic Division (ahead of Pittsburgh), Calgary is leading the Northwest, etc. etc. etc.

Don't forget Osgood started against Washington and Chicago in the beginning of the season.

Edited December 19, 2009 by Doc Holliday

[cupforwings 138]

I seem to remember this team playing rather horribly in October with a (mostly) full roster. And to be honest, I'm not convinced that we'll really be so much better once we get everyone back. In fact, I'm starting to worry about it a bit. Guys are stepping up and taking on roles that weren't being filled before because they weren't getting the ice time to make the point. I think to some extent, we have some guys that are redundant and unnecessary.

Some will say I'm crazy, so be it.

I would rather have Eaves in the lineup than Flip right now.

I would rather have Miller in the lineup than Williams right now.

Are Flip and Williams bad? No. But I think Flip is a bit redundant and ultimately not as skilled as Eaves. I think Williams is inconsistent. I think in Miller and Eaves you've got guys that are on the up. With Eaves in particular, you've got a guy with a lot of skill who's had a rough start of a career. He's looking better and better as this season goes on though and I don't think you want to toy with his progress at this point. The guy has a whole lot of upside.

I'd gladly welcome back Franzen, Clearly, Kronwall and Ericsson. Oh, and obviously Z. But everyone else? At this point, I honestly like what I'm seeing from this team. I'm not convinced that a few of these other guys might not muck up some good things that are happening, not due to any real fault of their own other than they're just not necessarily the right pieces to the puzzle.

Eaves over Flip makes absolutely zero sense. Flip is our 3rd best center who is skilled, great defensively, and a hard worker... sure, now they may put Eaves with Flip because he has showed some promise, but why replace him; Flip is a very solid and important center for this team... Eaves will hopefully turn into a great winger for this team.

Williams is also an important part of this team, being one of the few right-handed shots. He is important for the powerplay, and is a skilled winger as well..

These two are going to be tremendous differences for this team.. Your crazy to think that we can rely on Eaves and Miller as top six scorers now because they had a few strong games.. they will stay in the lineup and will add tremendous depth to this team, but Filp and Williams are going to be the guys that need to perform in high pressure situations... I don't get your reasoning at all

[blankrap 9]

I would rather have this wings line-up than root for any other team in the league. Why be so silly about who is in goal? Who is centering what line? Who is on injured reserve? Still the wings.

To everyone who is bitching about it being like watching the griffins play: A lot of the wings start out as griffins... Consider this a preview of what is to come.

And for those who are hating on osgood... if wings were in scf with pitts or washington right now I would rather have ozzy starting. However I wouldn't mind seeing howard give it a shot either.

So many negative posts.... Be happy - it could be worse!

[Guest mindfly]

Osgood will also start tomorrow @ Chicago, so its true that howard gets the sub500 teams basically and osgood gets playoff/cup contenders

[Rivalred 630]

Osgood will also start tomorrow @ Chicago, so its true that howard gets the sub500 teams basically and osgood gets playoff/cup contenders

And what is your point?

Why not get Howard experience, a chance to win, and build his confidence @ the same time.

[Rivalred 630]

I will laugh when the Wings maybe go on an iffy 10-game stretch or a losing streak and fans in here go apes**t and turn on the team thinking we won't make the playoffs. It will happen.

It is currently happening.

[Rivalred 630]

But not a 5th straight 50win season....

And your point?

[Reds4Life 51]

And your point?

You do know you can quote more than one post, right?

[Rivalred 630]

You do know you can quote more than one post, right?

Did ya know you can bite me...

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

And what is your point?

Why not get Howard experience, a chance to win, and build his confidence @ the same time.

The point is it is silly to say "I feel more comfortable with Howard in net than Osgood" when that SHOULD be the case considering the teams each of them play. Osgood hasn't looked great but he has been trusted to play against the best teams. Howard has looked solid, and is the man to play against the lower tier teams.

[Pucks 66]

Osgood will also start tomorrow @ Chicago, so its true that howard gets the sub500 teams basically and osgood gets playoff/cup contenders

Babcock keeps playing Osgood against teams like this to try to wake him the hell up. He's hoping he'll feel like playing or stop boozing or whatever the hell his deal is again this year. This easy teams vs hard team things cracks me up. All the games count for 2 points. Howard is giving us the best chance to get 2 points. That's why he's playing the majority of games. Not because they're easy teams...LMFAO. Some of you are Osgood apologists to the bitter end. Classic.

Edited December 19, 2009 by Pucks