Time for Osgood

[Octopus's Garden 147]

This is in no way hammering Howard for the loss to the Coyotes. He could've made a save on at least 1 of the 4 and shouldn't have let the puck back in play on the 2nd, but I refuse to pin this on him.

That said .... I post this for 2 reasons.

1. If the Wings get into the playoffs, it's going to be Osgood. Plenty on here have made that point as the season goes on, and I believe it to be true. As well as Howard has played, Osgood will be the guy in the postseason (knock on wood that the Wings get there)

2. This team just needs a spark. Getting injured players back is all well and good, but this team needs a major kick in the pants. Blowing leads constantly is as much mental as it is physical. Will Ozzie prevent that? Given that he was in for Washington's comeback? Who knows. But now's the time to find out. 30 games left. Time to make a move.

[thedisappearer 291]

I can get behind this. Something needs to change, and I'd prefer Ozzie come playoffs (if...) so yeah.

[Guest Howard He Do It?!]

I was expecting Ozzie to get the start tomorrow regardless, but tonight's collapse makes it 100% in my mind.

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

I was expecting Ozzie to get the start tomorrow regardless, but tonight's collapse makes it 100% in my mind.

They way Babcock has been running things, would it surprise you to see Howard play another back to back?

That said, Howard needs some rest because he is getting absolutely hung out to dry by his defense. If they hadn't choked Howard would have been considered one of the big reasons for the Wings winning.

But alas, they did choke.

[wings_fanatic 677]

You know what, I do not often post on here as I just like to read what people think and have to say. But I am going to be honest here; I am TIRED of everyone praising Howard day in and day out and finding reasons to not place some blame on him for losses. Then the one game Ozzy plays in a month he somehow gets TOTAL blame from everyone for losing. Fact of the matter is, yes Howie as been good some games, but there are a LOT of games where he gets lucky and lately he has just been costing the Wings their leads. I know everyone likes him now but look at the L.A game... the wings had a 2-0 lead and then right at the start of the 2nd period he let in a bad goal off a bad rebound that he could not control and brought LA back into the game. Today I blame Howie for the 2nd goal (terrible rebound), 3rd goal (there was barely a screen and it was not even a good shot!) and the OT goal (REBOUND). Fact is Howie is not making the saves he needs to make for the team to win lately. I CANT believe people are on this board sayin Howie played good tonight; most of his good saves came OFF of rebounds he could not control!

Another thing I wanna mention is the way that the Wings have been playing. When Howie plays the Wings seem more scared in their zone and they start diving all over the place when there is a shot because they do not have confidence in Howard. This tires them out and thus explains a weaker offense. Another problem with Howard is the fact that so many of his shots come off rebounds that Ozzy would control... we see 35 shots against the wings when Howie plays because of this, and again, takes away from their approach.

The one game Ozzy played, last week, against the Caps, has actually been one of the better games I have seen the Wings play in a while now. Why? Because the team played with better confidence with Ozzy in net and in the end only allowed 23 shots on net while shooting 47 shots the other way! Why is it that the wings seemed to play GOOD RED WINGS HOCKEY (few shots against, lots of chances for them) the one game ozzy played?

I think its time to find out if it continues... without a doubt, whether you like it or not, it is time for Babcock to start playing Chris Osgood. I expect Ozzy to play tomorrow night and Friday night against the Preds. And if all goes well those 2 games I say keep playing Ozzy because its time to get our true number 1 guy going...

[Guest Howard He Do It?!]

They way Babcock has been running things, would it surprise you to see Howard play another back to back?

That said, Howard needs some rest because he is getting absolutely hung out to dry by his defense. If they hadn't choked Howard would have been considered one of the big reasons for the Wings winning.

But alas, they did choke.

No, I would not be surprised. I can already imagine what Babs would say. Something along the lines that Howard needs to keep his confidence high and the best way to do that is to throw him out there right away after a tough loss.

The defense is making "the choke" an art form. Something needs to change because the Wings are going no where with this current level of play.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I agree.

Howard looked scared out there at the end of the 3rd. Shots kept bouncing off his glove, and he was having a hard time with rebounds. Also, he was flopping around like an idiot on that OT goal.

He needs a break. This is the worst Wings team since the early 90's, and a rookie goalie shouldn't be the one having to play behind these losers.

Edited January 27, 2010 by GMRwings1983

[elriqo28 2]

You know what, I do not often post on here as I just like to read what people think and have to say. But I am going to be honest here; I am TIRED of everyone praising Howard day in and day out and finding reasons to not place some blame on him for losses. Then the one game Ozzy plays in a month he somehow gets TOTAL blame from everyone for losing. Fact of the matter is, yes Howie as been good some games, but there are a LOT of games where he gets lucky and lately he has just been costing the Wings their leads. I know everyone likes him now but look at the L.A game... the wings had a 2-0 lead and then right at the start of the 2nd period he let in a bad goal off a bad rebound that he could not control and brought LA back into the game. Today I blame Howie for the 2nd goal (terrible rebound), 3rd goal (there was barely a screen and it was not even a good shot!) and the OT goal (REBOUND). Fact is Howie is not making the saves he needs to make for the team to win lately. I CANT believe people are on this board sayin Howie played good tonight; most of his good saves came OFF of rebounds he could not control!

Another thing I wanna mention is the way that the Wings have been playing. When Howie plays the Wings seem more scared in their zone and they start diving all over the place when there is a shot because they do not have confidence in Howard. This tires them out and thus explains a weaker offense. Another problem with Howard is the fact that so many of his shots come off rebounds that Ozzy would control... we see 35 shots against the wings when Howie plays because of this, and again, takes away from their approach.

The one game Ozzy played, last week, against the Caps, has actually been one of the better games I have seen the Wings play in a while now. Why? Because the team played with better confidence with Ozzy in net and in the end only allowed 23 shots on net while shooting 47 shots the other way! Why is it that the wings seemed to play GOOD RED WINGS HOCKEY (few shots against, lots of chances for them) the one game ozzy played?

I think its time to find out if it continues... without a doubt, whether you like it or not, it is time for Babcock to start playing Chris Osgood. I expect Ozzy to play tomorrow night and Friday night against the Preds. And if all goes well those 2 games I say keep playing Ozzy because its time to get our true number 1 guy going...

well said.

[hooon 1,089]

How about the Wings just switch back to a normal goalie rotation?

While I hate the way Ozzie handled his frustration by going to the press, his comments are kinda true about it being an ineffective way to keep the goalies going.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

You know what, I do not often post on here as I just like to read what people think and have to say. But I am going to be honest here; I am TIRED of everyone praising Howard day in and day out and finding reasons to not place some blame on him for losses. Then the one game Ozzy plays in a month he somehow gets TOTAL blame from everyone for losing. Fact of the matter is, yes Howie as been good some games, but there are a LOT of games where he gets lucky and lately he has just been costing the Wings their leads. I know everyone likes him now but look at the L.A game... the wings had a 2-0 lead and then right at the start of the 2nd period he let in a bad goal off a bad rebound that he could not control and brought LA back into the game. Today I blame Howie for the 2nd goal (terrible rebound), 3rd goal (there was barely a screen and it was not even a good shot!) and the OT goal (REBOUND). Fact is Howie is not making the saves he needs to make for the team to win lately. I CANT believe people are on this board sayin Howie played good tonight; most of his good saves came OFF of rebounds he could not control!

Another thing I wanna mention is the way that the Wings have been playing. When Howie plays the Wings seem more scared in their zone and they start diving all over the place when there is a shot because they do not have confidence in Howard. This tires them out and thus explains a weaker offense. Another problem with Howard is the fact that so many of his shots come off rebounds that Ozzy would control... we see 35 shots against the wings when Howie plays because of this, and again, takes away from their approach.

The one game Ozzy played, last week, against the Caps, has actually been one of the better games I have seen the Wings play in a while now. Why? Because the team played with better confidence with Ozzy in net and in the end only allowed 23 shots on net while shooting 47 shots the other way! Why is it that the wings seemed to play GOOD RED WINGS HOCKEY (few shots against, lots of chances for them) the one game ozzy played?

I think its time to find out if it continues... without a doubt, whether you like it or not, it is time for Babcock to start playing Chris Osgood. I expect Ozzy to play tomorrow night and Friday night against the Preds. And if all goes well those 2 games I say keep playing Ozzy because its time to get our true number 1 guy going...

Very, very well-said and I completely agree.

[VM1138 1,921]

It's time for Osgood for several reasons, none of which have to do with Howard's play:

1) Howard needs a break sometime, and a back to back after a brutal loss is a good time to give him one.

2) Osgood needs to start sometime, might as well be now, when the Wings are doing a lot of things right but need some sort of change to alter their hockey luck.

[AtomicPunk 296]

Well, I just dropped Jimmy Howard in my hockey pool, so that means Osgood will take over and the Wings will win a few in a row. Howard might just have run out of luck for the time being. Let's see if Ozzy's rabbits foot will get him a few.

[Guest Howard He Do It?!]

It's time for Osgood for several reasons, none of which have to do with Howard's play:

1) Howard needs a break sometime, and a back to back after a brutal loss is a good time to give him one.

2) Osgood needs to start sometime, might as well be now, when the Wings are doing a lot of things right but need some sort of change to alter their hockey luck.

You hit the nail on the head.

[bdavis 28]

You know what, I do not often post on here as I just like to read what people think and have to say. But I am going to be honest here; I am TIRED of everyone praising Howard day in and day out and finding reasons to not place some blame on him for losses. Then the one game Ozzy plays in a month he somehow gets TOTAL blame from everyone for losing. Fact of the matter is, yes Howie as been good some games, but there are a LOT of games where he gets lucky and lately he has just been costing the Wings their leads. I know everyone likes him now but look at the L.A game... the wings had a 2-0 lead and then right at the start of the 2nd period he let in a bad goal off a bad rebound that he could not control and brought LA back into the game. Today I blame Howie for the 2nd goal (terrible rebound), 3rd goal (there was barely a screen and it was not even a good shot!) and the OT goal (REBOUND). Fact is Howie is not making the saves he needs to make for the team to win lately. I CANT believe people are on this board sayin Howie played good tonight; most of his good saves came OFF of rebounds he could not control!

Another thing I wanna mention is the way that the Wings have been playing. When Howie plays the Wings seem more scared in their zone and they start diving all over the place when there is a shot because they do not have confidence in Howard. This tires them out and thus explains a weaker offense. Another problem with Howard is the fact that so many of his shots come off rebounds that Ozzy would control... we see 35 shots against the wings when Howie plays because of this, and again, takes away from their approach.

The one game Ozzy played, last week, against the Caps, has actually been one of the better games I have seen the Wings play in a while now. Why? Because the team played with better confidence with Ozzy in net and in the end only allowed 23 shots on net while shooting 47 shots the other way! Why is it that the wings seemed to play GOOD RED WINGS HOCKEY (few shots against, lots of chances for them) the one game ozzy played?

I think its time to find out if it continues... without a doubt, whether you like it or not, it is time for Babcock to start playing Chris Osgood. I expect Ozzy to play tomorrow night and Friday night against the Preds. And if all goes well those 2 games I say keep playing Ozzy because its time to get our true number 1 guy going...

Osgood, is that you?

[Zetts 236]

You know what, I do not often post on here as I just like to read what people think and have to say. But I am going to be honest here; I am TIRED of everyone praising Howard day in and day out and finding reasons to not place some blame on him for losses. Then the one game Ozzy plays in a month he somehow gets TOTAL blame from everyone for losing. Fact of the matter is, yes Howie as been good some games, but there are a LOT of games where he gets lucky and lately he has just been costing the Wings their leads. I know everyone likes him now but look at the L.A game... the wings had a 2-0 lead and then right at the start of the 2nd period he let in a bad goal off a bad rebound that he could not control and brought LA back into the game. Today I blame Howie for the 2nd goal (terrible rebound), 3rd goal (there was barely a screen and it was not even a good shot!) and the OT goal (REBOUND). Fact is Howie is not making the saves he needs to make for the team to win lately. I CANT believe people are on this board sayin Howie played good tonight; most of his good saves came OFF of rebounds he could not control!

Another thing I wanna mention is the way that the Wings have been playing. When Howie plays the Wings seem more scared in their zone and they start diving all over the place when there is a shot because they do not have confidence in Howard. This tires them out and thus explains a weaker offense. Another problem with Howard is the fact that so many of his shots come off rebounds that Ozzy would control... we see 35 shots against the wings when Howie plays because of this, and again, takes away from their approach.

The one game Ozzy played, last week, against the Caps, has actually been one of the better games I have seen the Wings play in a while now. Why? Because the team played with better confidence with Ozzy in net and in the end only allowed 23 shots on net while shooting 47 shots the other way! Why is it that the wings seemed to play GOOD RED WINGS HOCKEY (few shots against, lots of chances for them) the one game ozzy played?

I think its time to find out if it continues... without a doubt, whether you like it or not, it is time for Babcock to start playing Chris Osgood. I expect Ozzy to play tomorrow night and Friday night against the Preds. And if all goes well those 2 games I say keep playing Ozzy because its time to get our true number 1 guy going...

Howard gets more slack because he's a rookie and was supposed to be the backup whereas Osgood was supposed to step up as a starter.

Doesn't make it fair, and it's not necessarily justification for playing Howard so much.

But I think a lot of people are just so excited that a rookie goaltender is playing so well that they're giving him a little extra credit. Everyone really wants him to work out for us.

But yes you're right, it probably is unfair.

I don't know if I agree about the Wings having less confidence in Howard though. Babs has sure showed his confidence in Howard and I would at least like to think that his confidence is a reflection of how the players would also feel.

[sherwood40 16]

We need Ozzie in now, I have not been a big Howie fan so far, he gives up to many rebounds for 2nd and 3rd shots(LA game 51 saves). If Babs does not play ozzie I think it will make him look like a fool.

[King Crane 289]

I think Ozzie needs some ice time, and Howard needs a break BUT NOT because Howard has been playing poorly. In fact I do not think Howard has been playing poorly, on the contrary, I think Howard has been playing fantastic. The reason the Wings have been losing games (and tonight was an excellent example of this) is because once they get a lead they sit on their heels the rest of the game. The defense needs to keep the puck out of the zone, and the offense needs to play a more defensive game especially when the team is ahead. I know that sounds weird because the Wings haven't had high scoring games, but when I say they need to play more "Defensively" I do not mean to infer that they have been playing offensively. In fact, the problem is the offense just seems to give up in a way, they don't set up scoring plays carefully and they don't play defensively when they're ahead.

[wings_fanatic 677]

You know what this reminds me of 2 years ago; the goalie war on here between Dom and Ozzy. Both were legitimate starters and both played solid all season. Please let it be known I am the biggest Hasek fan ever; I think he was the best goalie ever; but that season the team responded better when Ozzy was in net. I do not know why but that is how it was; they played smarter, more composed, and their excellent play in front of ozzy led to their success. However, Babs stuck with Dom and, in games 3 and 4, the Wings had leads many times but the team did not have a lot of confidence in Dom and thus those leads vanished. Then in came Ozzy and the team began to play, again, much more composed and comftorable.

This is the problem on the Wings. The team, for some reason, plays more confident, smart and composed in front of Ozzy and, sure they lost, but it was Ozzy's first game in a month. If the Wings want to make playoffs, Babcock will realize that his team responds better to Ozzy in net and he needs to get Ozzy going. Now I am not saying to pull Howard forever as I agree with Ozzy that you have to keep both goalies rolling; and we sure do not want ozzy burned out come post-season. But without a doubt, if the Wings are to have success, Ozzy has to play 70% of the remaining games IMO because he is clutch, the team plays better in front of him, and he has proven all wrong in the past. Ozzy is the guy, n ow its time to roll with him and get our Winged Eagles going!

[Zetts 236]

You know what this reminds me of 2 years ago; the goalie war on here between Dom and Ozzy.

This reminds me of the goalie war on here every year regardless of who the two goaltenders are.

[The Noodle 39 14]

Osgood is the last thing this team needs right now. Howard has been making saves this season that Osgood could only dream of making. Nothing different would occur with him in net except for the fact that it would be a worse loss. Is Howard to blame on these losses over the past 5-6 games? No were just not holding our leads and random garbage keeps happening to us. Lucky goals by the Coyotes tonight and all the rest of the games those were a mix of lucky goals which caused momentum for the other teams.

Getting sick of watching the Wings blow these leads though pretty ridiculous!!!

[LEBDA22 0]

What about getting someone on defence to clear the front of the net. This has been going on all season. Everytime there is a rebound, not one player from the Wings is there to pick it up. I see this every game. Get someone to grow some balls and level whatever opposing player is near the crease and the puck.

[cmonster 11]

I concur. I believe its time to give the reigns to Osgood. I feel that Howard is getting burnt out. Against the Wild, it absolutely should be Osgood. Honestly, with Ozzie we have to find out if he is going to take his job back or not. Hopefully, Ozzie gets hot and tells everyone STFU, this my team, jump on my back, and lets go get 4th place.

And on that note, Ozzie, don't screw up. Put up or shut up.

[gcom007 1,465]

I think it's time, and it's no knock on Howard. The kids done a damn fine job, and it's probably safe to say things are cooling off a bit, but he's got a real bright future. He deserves a chance to relax a bit and focus on some other areas of his game that will make him a better goalie and Osgood needs to get playing. It's a good time to get back into a rotation. But no one can really say s*** about this kid for all he's done thus far. He's really pulled his weight and some and played some great hockey and these losses can't be blamed on him.

[joshy207 156]

Howard probably should have been able to stop one or two of the goals tonight, but the Wings HAVE TO start covering opposition players in front of their net. Ericsson walked away from Doan on the OT winner; Zetterberg (I know he's a center, but centers are the 3rd defenseman in your own zone) never even looked at Jovanovski, who was 2 feet away from him, on his goal; Stuart got outworked going after a rebound on another goal... If you play bad D, you will give up bad goals. If the Wings want to make the playoffs, they will play better in their own zone. Everything else falls into place after you do that.

[gcom007 1,465]

Howard probably should have been able to stop one or two of the goals tonight, but the Wings HAVE TO start covering opposition players in front of their net. Ericsson walked away from Doan on the OT winner; Zetterberg (I know he's a center, but centers are the 3rd defenseman in your own zone) never even looked at Jovanovski, who was 2 feet away from him, on his goal; Stuart got outworked going after a rebound on another goal... If you play bad D, you will give up bad goals. If the Wings want to make the playoffs, they will play better in their own zone. Everything else falls into place after you do that.

I'm telling you, no way Z is 100%.

And Howard doesn't make it easy on the D with the lack of puck control. The D does need to get guys out on those scrambles, but Howard also needs to be doing a better job of absorbing the puck as opposed to giving up rebounds that a ton of guys end up crashing into. With guys like Ericsson out there especially, Howard needs to control the puck better as chances are if it's anywhere near Ericsson, he's going to miss a guy or make a stupid pass.