38 replies to this topic

[rage]

The guy is amazing. I am still not sure why Ozzie is really not playing this year but Howard has been great. I remember watching him play for Maine and he was awesome there. His Grand Rapids Career is nothing to write home about, but I think he was bored.

What else could it be? I mean the guy is our MVP and Rookie Of The Year.

[albo23]

19-14-6

[hckypete96]

j ho looks great right now... hope he keeps it up! pretty funny how a few months ago everyone was demanding a trade for biron....

[dragonballgtz]

j ho looks great right now... hope he keeps it up! pretty funny how a few months ago everyone was demanding a trade for biron....

I admit I didn't like what I seen and heard about Howard in the AHL. He has proven me wrong so far and thank god.

Edited by dragonballgtz, 29 December 2009 - 07:48 PM.

[Shady Ultima]

19-14-6

That's a decent record, considering the abysmal play of the team in front of him. He hasn't been letting in many goals. I mean, he only let in one or two goals in most games, and we still lost those games.

[Redline]

So far so good, I wouldn't ready his jersey for the rafters quite yet, Sawchuk he's not.

He still gives up too many juicy rebounds, the bad goal now and then, and the real test
will come post season provided he gets the nod.

[Z and D for the C]

I think he's proved about 90% wrong, the other 10% believed in him. I had an absolute about face with Howard, I love him now after thinking he would suck.

[cjm502]

The best part about this is coming in to this season Jimmy said he knew he had a lot of doubters, and he was out to prove them wrong. Well guess what, J-Ho was successful.

[jollymania]

He is playing good considering the circumstances, he was shaky to start but he is solid now, I didn't expect much from him coming in but who knows, maybe he is the #1 goalie we would use down the road, and perhaps he will stick with it once we are healthy

[MCleveland89]

I remember last year my dad asking me "What was up with that game tonight?" and I replied "Howard was in net." So, when I first heard he was going to take Conklin's place, I was not too happy. But he has proven me wrong since. Although, I still miss Conks. Nonetheless, glad to have you here Howie.

[Jake Ryan]

Go Figure. We finally get a goalie who can keep the puck out, and then our team gets injured to the point where they can't get the puck in. Fizzlesticks.

[stevkrause]

I think the real test will be once everyone is healthy and he's facing 15-20 or less shots a night.... goalies are creatures of habit and routine and as has been proven in the past, some goalies thrive on action and do poorly when they have long stretches of not facing any shots, as they get bored/distracted and give up soft goals when they finally do face a shot... as long as he can keep his head even keeled, keep the bad stuff out and keep focus at a premium, we may have our goalie of the future...

on a side note 19-14-6 isn't too bad with the team we have in front of him right now, but the real numbers I'm focused on are .926 SV% and 2.26 GAA - keep that up and you'll win way more than you lose...

[Outsider]

I think the real test will be once everyone is healthy and he's facing 15-20 or less shots a night....

Not for nothin', but the real test will be once he begins to consistently face quality NHL Teams, rather than the non-stop spate of bottom dwellers he's been racking up those impressive stats against.

The only real Team he's even faced this Season has been Chicago. Then again, he was also pretty good in the Win against Phoenix mid-December. Other than that? He's played every bottom feeder on the schedule thus far this year.

I know I'm going to be blasted for pointing it out, (especially considering I am a huge Osgood fan!), and perhaps rightfully so, but let's not get too crazy here. With the exception of Chicago, (on THEIR second night of back-to-backs after facing the Sharks the night before), the only Teams he's really even been allowed to face are the Teams that the Wings are capable of beating.

[stevkrause]

Not for nothin', but the real test will be once he begins to consistently face quality NHL Teams, rather than the non-stop spate of bottom dwellers he's been racking up those impressive stats against.

The only real Team he's even faced this Season has been Chicago. Then again, he was also pretty good in the Win against Phoenix mid-December. Other than that? He's played every bottom feeder on the schedule thus far this year.

I know I'm going to be blasted for pointing it out, (especially considering I am a huge Osgood fan!), and perhaps rightfully so, but let's not get too crazy here. With the exception of Chicago, (on THEIR second night of back-to-backs after facing the Sharks the night before), the only Teams he's really even been allowed to face are the Teams that the Wings are capable of beating.

Has he had his growing pains, for sure, but to say he has only faced one real team this year is a joke... he has faced several and done quite well against them as well, not to mention playing well against teams he should as well...

Date Team Opp GP W L T Min GA SA SO GAA Sv%
03-Oct-09 Det StL 1 0 1 0 58.36 5 32 0 5.14 .844
13-Oct-09 Det Buf 1 0 0 0 27.23 1 15 0 4.21 .872
24-Oct-09 Det Col 1 0 1 0 59.35 2 22 0 3.31 .884
27-Oct-09 Det Van 1 1 0 0 52.83 2 22 0 3.03 .890
29-Oct-09 Det Edm 1 0 0 0 65 5 33 0 3.42 .879
11-Nov-09 Det CBJ 1 1 0 0 60 1 26 0 2.97 .893
12-Nov-09 Det Van 1 1 0 0 60 1 32 0 2.66 .907
14-Nov-09 Det Ana 1 1 0 0 59.93 4 23 0 2.85 .898
18-Nov-09 Det Dal 1 0 1 0 58.75 3 32 0 2.87 .899
21-Nov-09 Det Mtl 1 1 0 0 64.95 2 18 0 2.75 .898
25-Nov-09 Det Atl 1 0 1 0 58.43 2 25 0 2.69 .900
28-Nov-09 Det StL 1 1 0 0 64.58 3 35 0 2.70 .902
30-Nov-09 Det Dal 1 1 0 0 60 1 30 0 2.56 .907
03-Dec-09 Det Edm 1 0 1 0 60 4 36 0 2.67 .906
06-Dec-09 Det NYR 1 1 0 0 60 1 29 0 2.55 .910
09-Dec-09 Det StL 1 0 1 0 59.48 1 26 0 2.45 .913
11-Dec-09 Det Ana 1 1 0 0 60.6 2 27 0 2.43 .914
14-Dec-09 Det Phx 1 1 0 0 59.91 2 32 0 2.40 .915
17-Dec-09 Det TB 1 1 0 0 60 0 30 1 2.27 .920
19-Dec-09 Det Dal 1 0 1 0 59.55 4 21 0 2.36 .916
23-Dec-09 Det Chi 1 0 1 0 59.96 3 31 0 2.39 .915
26-Dec-09 Det CBJ 1 1 0 0 59.9 1 29 0 2.33 .917
28-Dec-09 Det CBJ 1 0 0 0 63.2 1 40 0 2.26 .921

Edited by stevkrause, 30 December 2009 - 11:27 AM.

[Outsider]

Has he had his growing pains, for sure, but to say he has only faced one real team this year is a joke... he has faced several and done quite well against them as well, not to mention playing well against teams he should as well...

Date Team Opp GP W L T Min GA SA SO GAA Sv%
03-Oct-09 Det StL 1 0 1 0 58.36 5 32 0 5.14 .844
13-Oct-09 Det Buf 1 0 0 0 27.23 1 15 0 4.21 .872
24-Oct-09 Det Col 1 0 1 0 59.35 2 22 0 3.31 .884
27-Oct-09 Det Van 1 1 0 0 52.83 2 22 0 3.03 .890
29-Oct-09 Det Edm 1 0 0 0 65 5 33 0 3.42 .879
11-Nov-09 Det CBJ 1 1 0 0 60 1 26 0 2.97 .893
12-Nov-09 Det Van 1 1 0 0 60 1 32 0 2.66 .907
14-Nov-09 Det Ana 1 1 0 0 59.93 4 23 0 2.85 .898
18-Nov-09 Det Dal 1 0 1 0 58.75 3 32 0 2.87 .899
21-Nov-09 Det Mtl 1 1 0 0 64.95 2 18 0 2.75 .898
25-Nov-09 Det Atl 1 0 1 0 58.43 2 25 0 2.69 .900
28-Nov-09 Det StL 1 1 0 0 64.58 3 35 0 2.70 .902
30-Nov-09 Det Dal 1 1 0 0 60 1 30 0 2.56 .907
03-Dec-09 Det Edm 1 0 1 0 60 4 36 0 2.67 .906
06-Dec-09 Det NYR 1 1 0 0 60 1 29 0 2.55 .910
09-Dec-09 Det StL 1 0 1 0 59.48 1 26 0 2.45 .913
11-Dec-09 Det Ana 1 1 0 0 60.6 2 27 0 2.43 .914
14-Dec-09 Det Phx 1 1 0 0 59.91 2 32 0 2.40 .915
17-Dec-09 Det TB 1 1 0 0 60 0 30 1 2.27 .920
19-Dec-09 Det Dal 1 0 1 0 59.55 4 21 0 2.36 .916
23-Dec-09 Det Chi 1 0 1 0 59.96 3 31 0 2.39 .915
26-Dec-09 Det CBJ 1 1 0 0 59.9 1 29 0 2.33 .917
28-Dec-09 Det CBJ 1 0 0 0 63.2 1 40 0 2.26 .921

Context, please. Context.

When he faced Vancouver, the 'Nucks were below the Wings in the Standings.

Dallas? Against Turco? Come on. Had it not been Turco in net, at JLA......? But, (regardless), Dallas was below the Wings in the Standings when he faced them, too.

When he faced the Rangers, they also were below the Wings in the Standings. As a matter of fact, they still have fewer points, in a weaker Conference, than the Wings.

I already stated that he was good against Phoenix on the 14th of December. And he was. That was a good, quality Win against a tough opponent.

Chicago? He played alright in that Game. He also lost. Facing a Team, (as stated previously), on the second night of back-to-backs, and with a fresh Team in front of him.

Take another glance over your list. And tell me how many REAL QUALITY Teams he's faced out of the 23 Games he's played.

[Doc Holliday]

Has he had his growing pains, for sure, but to say he has only faced one real team this year is a joke... he has faced several and done quite well against them as well, not to mention playing well against teams he should as well...

Date Team Opp GP W L T Min GA SA SO GAA Sv%
03-Oct-09 Det StL 1 0 1 0 58.36 5 32 0 5.14 .844
13-Oct-09 Det Buf 1 0 0 0 27.23 1 15 0 4.21 .872
24-Oct-09 Det Col 1 0 1 0 59.35 2 22 0 3.31 .884
27-Oct-09 Det Van 1 1 0 0 52.83 2 22 0 3.03 .890
29-Oct-09 Det Edm 1 0 0 0 65 5 33 0 3.42 .879
11-Nov-09 Det CBJ 1 1 0 0 60 1 26 0 2.97 .893
12-Nov-09 Det Van 1 1 0 0 60 1 32 0 2.66 .907
14-Nov-09 Det Ana 1 1 0 0 59.93 4 23 0 2.85 .898
18-Nov-09 Det Dal 1 0 1 0 58.75 3 32 0 2.87 .899
21-Nov-09 Det Mtl 1 1 0 0 64.95 2 18 0 2.75 .898
25-Nov-09 Det Atl 1 0 1 0 58.43 2 25 0 2.69 .900
28-Nov-09 Det StL 1 1 0 0 64.58 3 35 0 2.70 .902
30-Nov-09 Det Dal 1 1 0 0 60 1 30 0 2.56 .907
03-Dec-09 Det Edm 1 0 1 0 60 4 36 0 2.67 .906
06-Dec-09 Det NYR 1 1 0 0 60 1 29 0 2.55 .910
09-Dec-09 Det StL 1 0 1 0 59.48 1 26 0 2.45 .913
11-Dec-09 Det Ana 1 1 0 0 60.6 2 27 0 2.43 .914
14-Dec-09 Det Phx 1 1 0 0 59.91 2 32 0 2.40 .915
17-Dec-09 Det TB 1 1 0 0 60 0 30 1 2.27 .920
19-Dec-09 Det Dal 1 0 1 0 59.55 4 21 0 2.36 .916
23-Dec-09 Det Chi 1 0 1 0 59.96 3 31 0 2.39 .915
26-Dec-09 Det CBJ 1 1 0 0 59.9 1 29 0 2.33 .917
28-Dec-09 Det CBJ 1 0 0 0 63.2 1 40 0 2.26 .921

I would say Detroit is more than capable of beating NYR, VAN, DAL, and ATL.

[Outsider]

I would say Detroit is more than capable of beating NYR, VAN, DAL, and ATL.

Hey there, Doc.....I know you've noticed the same pattern.

Yes, Howard is playing well. BUT.....

I don't think there's a person here who wouldn't concede that Howard's Games are being closely managed, micro-managed even, in order to give him the most favorable match-ups, with the best possible outcomes, and with the least amount of adversity possible.

There's ONE Team he's faced, all Season long, where there was not a better than even chance of Victory. Chicago.

As previously stated, that was a Loss. Not his fault, really. You can't Win if your Team doesn't score, but a Loss, nonetheless.

Also, take a look at the OVERALL schedule, people. And compare it to Howards slate of Starts. Then compare the Starts that Osgood has gotten. Without exception, Osgood has gotten the TOUGHER opponents, under the least favorable conditions, every single time.

[Carman]

Tougher oppenents? It's the damn NHL. I'm not a big Howard fan, but do you really have to go through the schedule to pick apart practically the only bright spot so far this season? He's playing well with the opportunity he is given, isn't that all you can ask?

Edited by Carman, 30 December 2009 - 12:10 PM.

[Outsider]

Tougher oppenents? It's the damn NHL. I'm not a big Howard fan, but do you really have to do through the schedule to pick apart practically the only bright spot so far this season? He's playing well with the opportunity he is given, isn't that all you can ask?

Yes. That IS all you can ask, Carman. He HAS done well with what he's been given. Did you expect him NOT to, considering the Teams he's been facing?

But that doesn't take into consideration all those who are ready to hand Howard the Calder AND the Starting job, (even into the Post Season - knock on wood), based on a record built up almost exclusively against the worst Teams in the NHL.

A little perspective here.

[Carman]

Yes. That IS all you can ask, Carman. He HAS done well with what he's been given. Did you expect him NOT to, considering the Teams he's been facing?

But that doesn't take into consideration all those who are ready to hand Howard the Calder AND the Starting job, (even into the Post Season - knock on wood), based on a record built up almost exclusively against the worst Teams in the NHL.

A little perspective here.

The only perspective I need is at the moment he is giving the team a chance to win games. I'm happy with that. NHL competition is NHL competition, the NHL is close enough in terms of standings that the best teams aren't that far away from the worst teams. He's winning games at the NHL level, it doesn't matter who they are against we need every single win we can get, because right now we are fighting for a playoff spot.

Osgood deserves his chance, he's earned it, but Howard is the future and we all need to be happy that he is finally playing at level which puts him in categories with other legitimate NHL goaltenders that are versing the same competition as him.

Howard is playing well behind a team playing without 6 of it's top 8 players, enjoy it is all I'm asking.