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Deep Digging: Monday, Bloody Monday
by IwoCPO on 12/18/06 at 08:48 AM ET
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Stop the frigging presses. Ted Kulfan’s broken a biggie.
Kulfan/Detroit News
And many times, there’s blood in hockey. Because there are a lot of cuts.
If I was a sinister blogger, I’d leave it at that and say something marginally sarcastic like, “really?”.
But, I’m not that blogger. And, the story’s pretty good.
“You see the way Ted (Lindsay) played the game, the scars he got playing, how hard he played,” said Wings forward Kris Draper, a touch of awe in his voice. “Ted probably owns the record.”
The record would be number of stitches accumulated in a career. Some estimates put Lindsay somewhere way in the hundreds, maybe eclipsing 1,000.
Draper has passed 200 stitches in his career.
I’ve accumulated 30 stitches in my career. My brother shanked me (7 stitches) when he was 4. I was 7. I ran into a fence chasing a dog when I was 10 (8 stitches) and then there was an “incident” in the Philippines when I was 20 (15 stitches). Just thought you should know.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a backup goalie and his name is Christopher. You may recall the lad. He’s been in and out of the organ-I-zation a few times, has two Cups to his name, a posse of puck bunnies and an amazing amount of humility. And he no longer has a “rash,” which I’m sure the posse appreciates.
Now the question is when he should play.
JV Deep Digger George Sipple says Osgood would be “the logical choice” to start in Columbus tonite. Former Deep Digger captain Kulfan seems to agree.
Activated off the injured list Saturday morning, Osgood practiced full-tilt Sunday and said he’s ready to play, if needed.
With Dominik Hasek having played six consecutive games, and 10 of the last 12, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Osgood in net tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Makes sense, right?
Yeah…ummm. Until we get to a quote from Babcock a mere two sentences later.
“I’ll tell you tomorrow (Monday),” coach Mike Babcock said after Sunday’s practice. “I had a plan (going into the weekend) and then I don’t now. Ozzie isn’t in game shape, but he’s not out of practice shape, and we have to get him in. Dom has had days off between games and he’s been playing well.
“We’ll decide (Sunday night).”
I’m sorry. What?
Let me break it down for you. Babcock will tell us Monday. He had a plan. Now he doesn’t. Osgood isn’t in game shape, but is in “practice shape”, Hasek’s rested, playing well, and Osgood may play. Oh, and he’ll decide Sunday, yesterday, before he tells us today, Monday.
Got that? Good. Me too.
If Osgood’s not in “game shape”, don’t play him. This isn’t Traverse City and backup goalies shouldn’t play unless they’re ready, particularly if the starter’s healthy and on fire…which Hasek is on both counts. Babcock’s already given away, in my opinion, 4 points in starting MacDonald against San Jose and Nashville when Hasek could have faced either one. Am I putting Columbus in the same category? Of course not. But, I am questioning the logic of sitting Hasek just to get your backup some PT.
Give Osgood four more days to get into “game shape” then start him Friday against Minnesota, the first of a back-to-back, home-and-home.
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I think Hasek should play tonight. This is a new(er) Columbus team that is playing (somewhat) inspired hockey. Hasek is coming off of a good game against NJ and should help to establish dominance against a team that believes they can beat the Wings.
Hasek should shut the door on them tonight and allow Osgood to do the same in a more comfortable environment on Wednesday.
Posted by Matt from Royal Oak, MI on 12/18/06 at 12:53 PM ET