VM1138

I'll just say this: If Ozzie had let in that second and fourth goal last night, this thread would be twice as long. Those were bad goals. I thought the third was stoppable too considering Jimmy got beat on the short-side. I'm not clamoring already for Ozzie to start, but we need Jimmy to be stronger on nights when the team in front of him is clearly off their game.

I thought the whole team looked like garbage last night besides a handful of players. Colorado had the puck way too much outside of a few spurts from the Red Wings. We had no answer to their forecheck, got trapped in our zone for extended stretches and took penalties because of it. The Avalanche outworked the Red Wings plain and simple.

Even so, Osgood should get the next start.  I'd rather have two ready goalies than a repeat of last year's debacle.

If I was getting deported unless I found a job I'd probably sign with Anaheim too.  It's terrible for Lilja and all, but I'm sure he'll end up somewhere better next season.  Or maybe he'll request a trade later this year.

The real head-scratcher isn't why he signed with the Ducks, but why the Ducks were the only ones that wanted him.

Hopefully Ozzie gets to start more consistently so that he can build off of his performance tonight and let him regain the respect he deserves. Ideally I'd like to see him start as much as every other game, but it'll probably be every third or fourth game.

The thing that scares me is that there is no reason the Wings should lose this game.  They have the confidence, the skill, the experience and the momentum.  It all hinges on Osgood.  The rest of the team looked like they were really having fun last night.  The lines are clicking, they have confidence individually, and they're all healthy and they look 10x better on the ice than last season.  

Osgood is the unknown variable here.  A good game will do a lot to restore his reputation.  I think with the excitement and the motivation the team has right means they won't be inconsistent like last year.  We'll see a lot more winning streaks and less half-ass efforts.  Virtually everyone on the Wings has something to prove and we should see it.

I know you guys are pretty concerned about Datsyuk fighting because of the risk of injury, but I've got to say it was a really cool moment nonetheless.  Once in a while you have to stand up for yourself, superstar or no.  Plus, as in everything else he does, Datsyuk seemed pretty smart during the fight and got the better of it.  I don't want him seeking fights but when a douchebag like Perry comes calling you've got to put him in his place.

I don't think we'll see an Original 6 matchup in the finals for decades.  As for the Capitals...I'm not sure they have everything in place yet but it's certainly possible.  I'm betting some random team out of the East will make it.  THere are very few consistent teams there.

It's obviously going to be Maltby put on waivers.  Odds are no one will pick him up.  So he's extremely low risk.  Why lose one when you can lose none?

Sometimes I think athletes live in a fantasy land where reality has no meaning.

Glad he's doing well, wish he could've stayed a Wing but it just wasn't in the cards.

Couple things:

1) It's pre-season.  Nobody cares.  Yeah, Ozzie should technically be trying to prove himself but this really isn't an indicator of the rest of the season.  Look at the team in front of him and the team they're playing against.  Malkin and Crosby were both playing and neither Datsyuk or Zetterberg played.

2) I think the WIngs went something like 1-9 in 2002 and then went on to one of the most amazing seasons.

So don't everybody start attacking Ozzie.  I can sense some of you have your fingers hovering on the "jump off bandwagon" button already.

That sucks.  I hate it when NHL caliber players can't find a spot in the NHL.

Thanks for the memories, Kozzie.

I hate it when people talk about a signing by pointing out how a player played 4 or 5 seasons ago.  Seriously?  He may very well be good, I don't know.  But when I hear "if so and so plays the way they did back in '06 or '07 (or even '03 I've heard), it's a good signing" that indicates that player has done nothing since then.

Lidstrom-Rafalski
Kronwall-Stuart
Ericsson-Kindl/Salei/Lilja?

This might be too many.  I'd like to have Lilja back, buck Salei has already replaced his role for the most part, or is intended to.  Before we signed Salei I'd be all for Lilja, but unless he wants to be a call-up, he'd have to get in line. Kindl, who is probably a bust, still needs to be given a chance.  I doubt Lilja is willing to got o the AHL when he could go to the KHL.

Sorry, Lilja, you really proved your worth and overcame your past as an unreliable defenseman to be an integral part of this team.  But you sat on the pot a bit too long and you've been replaced.  No room at the inn, so to speak.

Really? How about that Game 3 against San Jose? Wings in control and then Howard gives up the weakest goal I can remember from the side boards, from the end line, and the Wings lose the game. The entire series was lost on that one goal. If he makes that "save" the Wings win game 3 and who knows where it goes from there. Once that goal slipped over the line the Wings were out of the playoffs.

God forbid a goalie have a subpar game in a playoff run?  Unheard of!

He missed 56 games last year with a back injury.  Also he's 36 years old.

I wouldn't call him a soft player, because he is physical, but he never fights and is coming off a serious injury.  

As a player, I'd be more intimidated by a big hitter than a fighter. I  could always choose not to fight.  It's much harder to avoid getting leveled.  Thus, a hitter > fighter in my eyes.