Question for Detroit Red Wings Fans...

[icehog3]

I was wondering what the goalie talk in Motown is. Osgood is having an unbelievable season. Hasek has rounded back into form after his injury and it playing great. What's the discussion in the media and with the fans about who should be the "go-to" guy right now?

Dilemma/Question number #2.....the Wings will be in the playoffs without a doubt, best record in the NHL so far. Babcock will be in the unenviable position of needing to pick a goalie for the playoffs. Obviously he can make a switch if his starter plays poorly, but he will be in a no win situation unless the the Wings win the Cup. Assuming that Osgood and Hasek both keep playing the way they have been playing the rest of the season, here's the question....If he starts Osgood and the Wings are eliminated, they will roast him for not starting Hasek, the tried and true Dominator. If he starts Hasek and they lose, he will be critisized for not playing Osgood. Either way he will get bashed unless the Wings win the Cup....so what do you think he will do?

[Kidrock387]

Originally Posted by icehog3

I was wondering what the goalie talk in Motown is. Osgood is having an unbelievable season. Hasek has rounded back into form after his injury and it playing great. What's the discussion in the media and with the fans about who should be the "go-to" guy right now?

Dilemma/Question number #2.....the Wings will be in the playoffs without a doubt, best record in the NHL so far. Babcock will be in the unenviable position of needing to pick a goalie for the playoffs. Obviously he can make a switch if his starter plays poorly, but he will be in a no win situation unless the the Wings win the Cup. Assuming that Osgood and Hasek both keep playing the way they have been playing the rest of the season, here's the question....If he starts Osgood and the Wings are eliminated, they will roast him for not starting Hasek, the tried and true Dominator. If he starts Hasek and they lose, he will be critisized for not playing Osgood. Either way he will get bashed unless the Wings win the Cup....so what do you think he will do?

Icehog,

As of right now Babcock is switching Hasek and Osgood every other game. They are both having career best seasons without a doubt. The media speculation hasn't been solid on who will get the start for the playoffs. I would assume that Hasek gets the start in the playoffs because he is there starter and he is getting paid alot more money than "Ozzie".

Another thing to keep in mind it will be the defenses fault if they go out in the first round for two reasons. First they have one of the best or the best goal tending in the NHL right now, that for being a starter backup combination. Second reason the wings have the two best defesnive partners in the NHL according to the statistics in goals, assist and plus minus points. Nick Lidstrom and Rafalski . Oh and one more thing to consider is the killer line of Zetterburg, Datsyuk, and Holdstrom.

I also make sure to watch when the Hawks and Wings play because of the conference and great rivarly. I still laugh when Chris Chelios (sp?) gets booed.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by Kidrock387

Icehog,

As of right now Babcock is switching Hasek and Osgood every other game. They are both having career best seasons without a doubt. The media speculation hasn't been solid on who will get the start for the playoffs. I would assume that Hasek gets the start in the playoffs because he is there starter and he is getting paid alot more money than "Ozzie".

Another thing to keep in mind it will be the defenses fault if they go out in the first round for two reasons. First they have one of the best or the best goal tending in the NHL right now, that for being a starter backup combination. Second reason the wings have the two best defesnive partners in the NHL according to the statistics in goals, assist and plus minus points. Nick Lidstrom and Rafalski . Oh and one more thing to consider is the killer line of Zetterburg, Datsyuk, and Holdstrom.

I also make sure to watch when the Hawks and Wings play because of the conference and great rivarly. I still laugh when Chris Chelios (sp?) gets booed.

I agree with you on most all points, but even if there is a defensive let-down, often the fans and media blame the goalie for not standing on their head night after night....so, Babcock will likely get critisized for his choice if that happens.

That line of Zets, Pavel and Holmstrom is great, but they have such great depth with Cleary, Draper, Hudler, Filppula, etc.

I think it sucks that the Hawks fan boo Chelios in Chicago. A Chicago native, he was the heart and soul of this team for 9 seasons and led them to their only Finals appearance in the last 35 years. It doesn't suck that the Hawks are 4-0 against the Wings this season, accounting for 4 of their 10 losses (counting OT losses) this season. Though the Wings really are the better team, and it could easily be 4-4 by season's end.

[stormin]

I don't think it matters who he plays. When the Wings lose to the Leafs the hockey fans in Motor City will be overcome with joy, just like the rest of the hockey loving public and they will completely forget to roast the coach for playing the wrong goalie.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by stormin

I don't think it matters who he plays. When the Wings lose to the Leafs the hockey fans in Motor City will be overcome with joy, just like the rest of the hockey loving public and they will completely forget to roast the coach for playing the wrong goalie.

One thing at a time Norm....the Leafs gotta make the playoffs first!

[Kidrock387]

Breaking news out of Detroit, Nick Lidstrom was resinged, to a 2 year contract untill 2010

[stormin]

Originally Posted by icehog3

One thing at a time Norm....the Leafs gotta make the playoffs first!

The Leafs have learned from the Sabres and Senators that winning the President's Trophy is a poor substitute for winning the Stanley Cup so they're saving their energy for when it counts.

[Kidrock387]

Originally Posted by Kidrock387

Breaking news out of Detroit, Nick Lidstrom was resinged, to a 2 year contract untill 2010

Not really sure if thats breaking news but its on the wings website. www.detroitredwings.com

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by stormin

The Leafs have learned from the Sabres and Senators that winning the President's Trophy is a poor substitute for winning the Stanley Cup so they're saving their energy for when it counts.

You're delusional, Norm. How about we just get mental and say Leafs - Hawks Finals?

Originally Posted by Kidrock387

Not really sure if thats breaking news but its on the wings website. www.detroitredwings.com

I think that just happened today, so it is "breaking"....breaking my heart, that is.

[Greenwit]

Originally Posted by Kidrock387

Icehog,

As of right now Babcock is switching Hasek and Osgood every other game. They are both having career best seasons without a doubt.

I suggest you take a look at Hasek's stats....he's far from having a career best season as evidenced by his .885 save pct. He's looked awful by his standards until very recently.

[Mtmouse]

I don't think Babcock would wear it if they were eliminated from the playoffs. The Wing fans are notorious for crucifying their goalies for losses. Remember Cujo a few years back? The fans hung him out to dry for losing 2-0 and 1-0 games.

I would expect Babcock would start off with Hasik in the playoffs..that's the main reason he is there...playoff experience. Although I don't think he could go wrong with Osgood.

Just my .

BTW, in case you were wondering, I'm a Wings fan.

[sailchaser]

Chelious has a restaurant to fall back on so his career can go were ever and the Wings goalies will be played and badgered by the fans no matter if the win or lose.Hasik will go in the net first until he messes up.He needs to play so he can get his huge playoff bonus incentives, then Osgood will go in until he over stretches then we repalce him with a no namer who will become next years starter

http://www.detroitredwings.com/

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by Greenwit

I suggest you take a look at Hasek's stats....he's far from having a career best season as evidenced by his .885 save pct. He's looked awful by his standards until very recently.

That is what I had stated in my first post, Hasek has been playing great recently. His last 4 games:

Originally Posted by ESPN

DATE OPP RESULT GS MIN W L OTL GA GAA SOG SV SV% ENG SO
12/27 @COL W 4-2 1 60 1 0 0 2 2.00 24 22 .917 0 0
12/22 @MIN W 4-1 1 60 1 0 0 1 1.00 19 18 .947 0 0
12/19 LA W 6-2 1 59 1 0 0 2 2.00 20 18 .900 0 0
12/17 WAS W 4-3 (OT) 1 64 1 0 0 3 2.78 30 27 .900 0 0

Originally Posted by sailchaser

Chelious has a restaurant to fall back on so his career can go were ever

If you knew Chris, you would know that he would trade the restaurant in a heartbeat for another chance to skate the Cup....that's the kind of competitor he is.

[kdhoffma]

Talk is mixed among the hockeytown fan base. Many think Ozzie is the man based on his career year and what many percieve as an uninterested Dom. However, there are those fans who have always been against Osgood and think by the end of the season Hasek will have reclaimed the starter role. The fact is that these are both veteran goalies who have backstopped the same number of stanley cup champs. The playoff starter will not be decided until late in the season by whoever is playing the best at that time.

One think to note though is that regardless of what happens, if the wings lose in the playoffs the media and fans will blame the goalie. It happens every year without fail.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by kdhoffma

One think to note though is that regardless of what happens, if the wings lose in the playoffs the media and fans will blame the goalie. It happens every year without fail.

Coming full circle back to my question then...do you also think that Babcock will get roasted for starting the "wrong" goalie if they get eliminated?