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Wings hanging P/O Hopes on Howard

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http://vyous.com/sports/nhl/redwings/2010/...-howard---sicom

For the first time in 15 years, the script is vastly different for the storied Detroit Red Wings. Instead of gradually gearing up for a Stanley Cup run, the Wings know the playoffs aren't a certainty this time around. Beset by injuries, their depth has been taxed to the limit. In the past, injuries afforded the regulars some rest while the front office and the fans got a glimpse of prospects toiling in the AHL.

It is against this unusual but not unforeseen backdrop that the Red Wings are now operating. In their nightly scramble for precious points, they are finding out what they have and what they need. GM Ken Holland knows that he'll clear plenty of cap space after the season. Coach Mike Babcock understood that this campaign wouldn't be about 50-wins and another Central Division title. It was going to mean finding different ways each night to just get to the postseason.

What Detroit didn't know was how much it could expect from goaltender Jimmy Howard. Selected 64th overall in the 2003 entry draft after his freshman season at Maine, Howard had a high profile as an amateur, including a year (2001-02) with the U.S. National Team Development Program. After turning pro, he bided his time in Grand Rapids, playing 186 games for the AHL Griffins over four seasons. His sporadic call-ups produced a 1-5 record and more questions than answers about his development as a NHL goaltender.

Back in the beginning of October, the Wings' brass really didn't know how the goaltending scenario would play out. Veteran Chris Osgood struggled most of last season before righting himself and performing brilliantly in the playoffs. But it was back-up Ty Conklin's 25 wins that carried Detroit. Could the 25-year-old Howard be expected to produce to that degree? Would the Red Wings have to rely heavily on the 37-year-old Osgood? Would it be a shared situation?

Well, the sharing has been mostly Osgood sharing wisdom as mentor to Howard the grateful go-to guy. Osgood has always been team-oriented, so his support isn't surprising. But a cantankerous veteran attitude could have really soured this process. Instead, Osgood has allowed Howard to flourish freely to the point where he is now performing better at the NHL level than he did in the AHL. His 2.18 goals-against average ranks sixth in the NHL and his .928 save percentage is third-best. Pretty heady stuff given the questions coming out of training camp -- questions that only intensified when Howard lost his first two starts in October.

Since then, though, Howard has lost back-to-back in regulation just one other time. Excepting Detroit's lifeless 6-0 loss to the Islanders on January 12, when he was pulled in the second period after allowing three goals on 20 shots, his consistency has been the most impressive and surprising aspect of his season. It's the one attribute that has him playing the majority of Detroit's games, as Osgood has started 18 compared to 30 by Howard, including the last 12 in a row, through Sunday. As Babcock stated, "We need points. We need wins to make the playoffs. He is giving us the best chance to be successful."

In seasons past, Howard's rise to prominence as a first-year starter would have been a nice sidebar. This year, it's a big story, and it's come at the perfect time for a team that needs his steadiness just to avoid an unusually early offseason.

Thought this was just an interesting little article, and a nice nod towards Jimmy.

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Guest Lidstromboli

in before incessant osgood/howard argument

Edited by Lidstromboli

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Just guessing here, but it seems that Jimmie playing back-to-back this weekend and 12 in a row implies to me that Howard is the horse that Babcock will ride this playoff season unless the horse comes up lame.

I originally thought Ozzie would start, but I'm beginning to think that Howard is the guy, the way Babcock plays him. Hopefully his youth will prevent him from getting burned out from playing too much. I think we're solid in goal, which I never would have predicted a few months ago.

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sure would be nice to be that team that had that goalie that drove other teams nuts in the playoffs, usually its the wings that face these type of goaltenders eg Dan Ellis, Giguère, Hiller.

Hope Howard is that guy if they use him as the #1 in the playoffs.

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sure would be nice to be that team that had that goalie that drove other teams nuts in the playoffs, usually its the wings that face these type of goaltenders eg Dan Ellis, Giguère, Hiller.

Hope Howard is that guy if they use him as the #1 in the playoffs.

Dan Ellis threw Detroit fits in one game.

Hiller was not a big deal considering most of Detroit's shots were perimeter shots due to the Ducks defense.

Giguere didn't throw Detroit fits in 07 (03 he did) because again the Ducks provided some serious team defense to help their goaltender.

Kipper is probably the most recent guy who has really hurt Detroit in the playoffs, though that was i 04.

Anywho, if Howard gets the reins for the playoffs I'll be all for him. I just hope this doesn't turn out to be another 06 Legace fiasco.

Edited by Doc Holliday

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sure would be nice to be that team that had that goalie that drove other teams nuts in the playoffs, usually its the wings that face these type of goaltenders eg Dan Ellis, Giguère, Hiller.

Hope Howard is that guy if they use him as the #1 in the playoffs.

Teams that get hot goaltening going into the playoffs rarely with the Stanley Cup. I know what you're saying. Giguere in 03, Kipper in 04, Roloson in 06, for example.

Eventually, if this team is to success, they're going to have to, you know, play well.

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