Abel to Yzerman
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by IwoCPO on 04/18/08 at 03:22 AM ET
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Well, it took eight months and it featured a humiliating admission from Dominik Hasek, and a two-game collapse that could have organ-I-zational consequences. But Chris Osgood’s your starter and if there’s one thing I know it’s this: nothing about this should make you feel anything but really frigging sick.
Does that mean the decision’s wrong? No. Does it mean the Wings can’t win this series? Nope.
All I’m saying is that switching starting goalies in the middle of a playoff series is a desperate move, one of admission and definitely one of weakness.
But none of that makes it the wrong move.
“Last 60 minutes, worst hockey I’ve played in my life. ... I feel very bad about myself.’’
Yep. That’s Hasek and let me say this: I’ve been wrong about him the entire year. Every time I suspect he’s about to completely lose it and flip out at the idea of riding shotgun to Osgood, he surprises me.
“It’s disappointing, but the coaches believe they made the best decision,” Hasek said. “I feel great. I want to be ready, and if it comes to my time, I’ll be back. But right now, it’s Ozzie’s time.”
Yeah. “Right now” would be the rest of the playoffs, Dom. “Ozzie’s time”? Next year too. Get used to it Wing fans. Chris Osgood’s your starter tonite, for as long as this playoff “run” lasts, and come next October? Yep. He’s your starter then too.
Does this qualify as a “controversy”? I’ve been calling for one all year so you’d think I’d be leading that charge. Now, because it’s kinda what I do, I’m gonna go ahead and say this is pretty much the furthest thing from a goalie controversy we’ve seen in Detroit the last six years.
Because Uncle Mike had no choice. None.
Three goals on 14 shots? I don’t care if every one was a laser, high to the blocker side, screened by two large Nashville women smoking Camels. By now we’re all aware that the fuel driving Bubba’s rejuvenation is emotion and that emotion is driven by the knowledge that Dominik Hasek isn’t going to steal anything. There is no intimidation, no aura, no mystique. Just an old guy playing mediocre to poor hockey.
“I just told Dom to get on the ice, get some work done, get your game back. We plan on having a long run here, so be ready.”
Ready for what? A whole lot of nothing. Hasek’s not going to see the ice the rest of this series, that’s for sure.
The question, of course, is whether any of this matters one frigging bit. Yes, Hasek’s play has been poor. But there are other issues that loom a little larger, at least to me.
This two-goal thing, this absolute train wreck of a trend...is that just goaltending? Do lapses like that fall independently on Hasek’s shoulders? Or is it something that a little leadership couldn’t solve? If the Wings choke the rest of this series away, and that’s what it would be--a monumental choke--fingers need to be straightened and pointed at the men who are supposed to lead this team.
Mike Babcock and Nick Lidstrom. Will Babcock be fired if the Wings lose? No. Will Lidstrom’s status as one of the greatest defensemen ever suffer? No. But accountability’s a funny thing. Ha-ha funny? No. Weird funny. Past Red Wing captains have been in similar situations. I can recall one who made a speech in St. Louis, another who dragged Sergei Fedorov’s ass off the trainer’s table in Denver. I think there was one more who played through some minor knee issues some year close to the turn of the century.
I’m not in “the room.” So I have no idea if Lidstrom, or any of the vets, have discussed what a wasted opportunity a series loss would be. It’s my understanding, though, that captains do that kind of stuff.
Is this a disaster, this two-game unraveling? No. Recoverable? Of course. Now, naturally, tonite’s a must win. Any kind of win would be kinda cool. But the preferred method? Damn, I’d give a nut for a blowout. A statement-making reminder of who holds the upper hand in this particular relationship. Give me a game that sees goals from Filppula and Samuelsson, a dirty one from Homer and a blast from Lidstrom. Give me two power play goals and a Downey brawl with Tootoo.
But I’m getting off the subject, eh? Osgood’s got a shot here, and it’s a shot that is hard to envision considering our current mental state (when I say “our” I mean you and me). But there’s a chance Osgood can pick this team up and carry them a few games. He played well, really well, in Game 4. The whole team, in fact, played desperately well the last period and a half. I think their confidence is high based on that.
My confidence? Oh, we don’t need to talk about that right now. Let’s just say it’s in a state of flux. It’s a game-by-game thing at this point.
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Comments
I agree wholeheartedly with Kate. I’ve watched every Wings game this season and Ozzie has been impressive. Granted he had a lapse after the All Star break (which I think they ought to dump, btw) but overall he’s been outstanding. Hasek has been spotty in his play and not dependable. I think Kate’s right about the team being more confident in front of Ozgood. GO WINGS!!! Destiny awaits… Stop ‘em all, Chris!
Posted by Cwix from Roanoke, VA on 04/18/08 at 07:09 AM ET
I think Hasek would have been better if he hadn’t gotten injured so close to the end of the regular season. I doubt he had enough time to get back to his normal form - another two weeks healthy or so and he would more likely have had his stamina back and performed better.
I still like starting Osgood. He has been very good all year and nothing rattles him emotionally. With Hasek’s injuries I would have actually liked to see Osgood start this series and consider starting Hasek in the second round if Detroit made it past Nashville, when he would be more likely to be healthy. Or continue with Osgood if he was playing well.
It’s not like Detroit has Dan Cloutier for a backup, after all.
On a (somewhat) related note, it looks like the concept of “Stanley Cup hangover” might have to be expanded to encompass the entire final four. From last year’s finalists, Buffalo didn’t make the playoffs, Ottawa was swept out easily in the first round, Anaheim is down 3-1 and has looked awful, and Detroit is struggling to get past the first round.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/18/08 at 07:32 AM ET
People! Listen to yourselves! WTF,eh? Come on… the Wings have lost 2 before. 2 in a row at the enemies houses. This is nothing different. We are getting secondary scoring. We’ve got a better netminder tonight. We got motivation… just take a quick look at who our next opponents could be. This could be our hardest series.
Yeah, you may have seen me on the stress train, in my own little corner, curled up, wrapped up in a blanket, suckling on a nipple topped bottle of Jag, like a little baby fawn suckling from mommy doe’s teets… But I’ve been there since February.
We are good. Right?
Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 04/18/08 at 07:57 AM ET
Is this game the biggest test in Z’s and Datsyuk’s playoff careers so far? They’ve already been playing really really good (a lone bright spot), but can they play better tonight? I will be very interested to see if Babcock splits them up. I don’t know if I really want that, but think it might help Franzen get back to where he was at the end of the season. Would also love it Filpula could be found somewhere soon. I don’t want to jinx him, but I think this is the night Charlie Buckets is BACK for real.
Posted by AndrewB from TN on 04/18/08 at 08:06 AM ET
“Pressure pushing down on me
Pressing down on you no man ask for”
We are good. Right?
I think so Slinger, I suppose we will learn the truth, in large part, tonite.
I hope I can still look at the HDTV when the final horn sounds. I pray that the Wings dominate in every phase of the game so that I don’t have to chug a bottle of Maalox tonite, before the 1st period is over.
This is where experience and leadership are supposed to come into play, isn’t it?
Posted by Jeff - - OklahomaWingNut from Wind-Swept-Plains on 04/18/08 at 08:07 AM ET
FYI: Chris Osgood Nashville stats from detroitredwings.com
Season/Career----------GPI------Min-----W---L---T--OT--GA----SA---SO----GAA----Sv%
2007-2008 vs. NSH-----4------193-----2---2----0---0-----8-----91----0----2.49---.912
Career vs. NSH----------27----1,537----17---7---2---1---58---621----1-----2.26---.907
Sorry for the hyphens. It wouldn’t format properly with spaces.
Posted by Cwix from Roanoke, VA on 04/18/08 at 08:48 AM ET
“This is our last chance,
This is our last chance,
This is ourselves...under pressure.”
Someone made the point earlier in the season when we had this controversy brewing that Dom had to be our starter for the playoffs. Not because he was playing like a #1, but because Osgood could ride to the rescue off the bench with a good attitude if needed. Dom has never, and will never, ride to anyone’s rescue, team player or not. At the time I thought that the sanest answer. Now that it’s come true, let’s hope that it is Ozzie to the rescue. Maybe Dom will be back after he recovers both physically and psychologically. Maybe not. But either way, this is the right move given the circumstances. I like this move, but I hate that it had to happen.
Past Red Wing captains have been in similar situations.
Chief, I think you’re being pretty hard on and unfair to Lidstrom. As good as he is, he’s not The Captain, just a captain. Steve Yzerman was the best captain and greatest leader hockey has ever seen, and most likely the greatest leader sports has ever seen. To expect Lidstrom to provide that kind of presence, that leadership, is asking far too much of an already great player. But he might not have to provide that level of leadership-- just enough to get the team through adversity.
And as I said previously, I too would like a statement game. I’d still like one. I don’t care about one to convince the Ekspurts that the Wings are legitimate contenders, just something to soothe my jingle-jangle nerves, Mr. Tambourine Man. Complete dominance for all sixty minutes will assuage my doubts somewhat. The team was in this exact situation last year against Calgary (although the circumstances that led up to it weren’t quite the same; the 2-2 series tie was more due to better play by the Flames with the last change and less due to poor play by the Wings). Can we get it done again this year?
Baroque, here’s another one for you about nephews-- after this one spent his entire vacation messing with dogs that could have mauled him, running about in rural roads where cars come whipping by with no warning, and jumping around on rocks taller than he is, he got home yesterday without a scratch. Only to fall down stairs at home and get a nasty gash on his head. I guess my point is...whether it’s nephews or playoffs, luck only extends so far.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the Stress Engine, watching the boiler pressure ri on 04/18/08 at 09:14 AM ET
I think in my 40 years of watching this team I have been desensitized to this emotional rollercoaster ride. Through the downtime in the 70’s, to the Cup years, and through these last few years of early outs, I have kind of flat lined. Osgood should be ok, but to me it would not make any difference if Jimmy Howard was in net. They have got to want it more, and some guy’s have to step up. It is out of our control.
I do wish Uncle Mike would put Abdelkader in, but I understand with the inexperience. We do need a spark though.
I will be in the back car (alcohol) of the train tonight.
Posted by Jeff from Loveland, CO on 04/18/08 at 09:45 AM ET
I, for one, am one solid period of hockey away from being totally calmed down. I just need a sign...an indication that we’ve still got that flash, that skill.
The last two games have been rough, but it doesn’t change the numbers. This is now a three-game series. Bottom line—Would you rather be us or them right now? We have to win TWO MORE GAMES. In a best of three, I’m taking our boys all day.
(leans over, throw up into trashcan...reaches back into cooler...)
Posted by disch from austin on 04/18/08 at 09:46 AM ET
Controversy? Nah, ain’t this the whole reason you bring 2 All-Star, Cup winning netminders into the playoffs?
I for one will feel much better knowing Ozzie got has chance. Dom’s was last year.
Posted by Dang on 04/18/08 at 10:35 AM ET
Compare how Osgood plays to how other goalies (like Ellis) play. Solid positioning, stay upright, cut off the angle, don’t give up rebounds, solid puck handling behind the net. Does Dom have ANY OF THOSE?! No. His particular style requires wicked reflexes - which he USED TO have. He doesn’t any more. He can’t win in the playoffs. Osgood can.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 04/18/08 at 10:42 AM ET
Leadership is exactly what’s been on my mind all week. Over breakfast, in the car, while drunk and crying in a piss-soaked gutter outside the bar. What we’re looking at is EXACTLY what the MSM has pointing out all season long - this team’s character is in question.
Chief, I think you’re being pretty hard on and unfair to Lidstrom. As good as he is, he’s not The Captain, just a captain.
Adrew, you’re right, he’s not The Captain, but that doesn’t just relieve him of the obligation of leading this team. Yzerman motivated simply by his presense. But we know that Nick, despite being one of the most skilled players ever, is a really nice guy. Mr. Rodgers nice. He’s the f***ing son of the Dalai Lama and Mother Theresa.
Sorry, but it’s time for him to show his angry face. He needs to intimidate. He needs to make someone cry. My money’s on Hudler. He doesn’t need to talk patiently but sternly to this team like your dad did when he found out you had skipped school for a whole month to hang out with Jennifer Martin just because she had huge...nevermind.
What I’m saying is that #5’s going to be a legend for what he can do on the ice. But if he ever wants to be remembered for being a captain of the Detroit Red Wings, he needs to flip a table over in the dressing room and start calling guys out. He’s not going to get an 18-story mural downtown by making pretty plays, he’s going to get it by scaring the crap out of this team and this city.
I friggen hate the playoffs. Another President’s Cup? We lose this one and Nick’s Wings are going to be remembered as the team who always blows their load before the fun even starts. And trust me, Jennifer Martin isn’t very forgiving when that happens.
Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 04/18/08 at 10:53 AM ET
Oh yeah-- with nephews and with playoffs, complacency can kill.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the right side of Happy Hour on 04/18/08 at 10:55 AM ET
Gabriel, I’m with you there-- the leadership, and this team has loads of it, DOES need to step up to the plate. The character of this team DOES need to show its mettle. My only point was that comparing Lidstrom to Yzerman was unfair to Lidstrom. Yzerman had the character to carry a team singlehandedly. To expect that of anyone else is just plain asking too much.
The team needs its collective ass kicked. It’s time for *someone* to do it.
Posted by AmdrewFromAnnArbor from the Chewing Gum and Ass Store...all out of gum on 04/18/08 at 11:01 AM ET
Not convinced the Wings can flip on the switch tonight. All the talk is great, but the Wings have yet to play 60 minutes of solid hockey in this series. I don’t expect anything to change tonight. A goaltending change will only help so much, but the boys will need to dig deep the rest of this series to win.
The Preds have won 2 in 2 games, not out of the realm of possibility they can win 2 out of 3. Call me a pessimist, but I don’t like the direction this series is heading.
The stress train rolls on....
Posted by Jeremy on 04/18/08 at 11:14 AM ET
namu myoho renge kyo
chant every syllable, repeat as necessary… this is the only way not to have a complete breakdown onboard the Stress Train. We are being taken for a ride, but every Wings fan knew this ride was coming when Dom was made our #1. No single goalie can be as brilliant, and frustratingly mediocre at the same time like Dom can.
Posted by VooX on 04/18/08 at 11:22 AM ET
Yeah, you may have seen me on the stress train, in my own little corner, curled up, wrapped up in a blanket, suckling on a nipple topped bottle of Jag, like a little baby fawn suckling from mommy doe’s teets… But I’ve been there since February.
Cementslinger, that’s you?!!...I am the guy in the fetal position with the Capt Morgan bottle in the other corner! The view from here looks good with Ozzie between the pipes. The team plays better in front of him. Call it faith. Hasek’s injury towards the end of the season has not allowed him time to find a groove. Moments of insanity, yes, but no groove. Ozzie’s been solid and is clearly the horse to ride now.
Babblecock needs to end the line juggles. Pav & Z need to be together as well as Lidstrom and Rafalski. Stop the “adjusting” ... fer gawdsakes it’s the Predators! Leave the pairings that work alone and let them play hard like that Roman team that Downey used to play on.
GO WINGS!
Posted by Rumbear from Sandy Eggo on 04/18/08 at 11:28 AM ET
On the positive side, Detroit hasn’t demonstrated that their best game isn’t enough to beat Nashville. Washington is in that position. Anaheim is in a similar position. They need to play their best game, and they will be fine.
Otherwise we’ll be in the same position as the Montreal fans - changing our screen names from “ftc” to “fear the collapse” to “the collapse is happening.” And I’m not sure there is enough booze and meth floating around the stress train to reach those levels of insanity right now.
Andrew--
On the other hand, when hurt, little kids heal very quickly. They certainly bounce back much more rapidly than adults, that’s for sure.
(Mine has been spending too much time in Granpa’s shop with tools. His dad took him to Home Depot, and he started to point out the different kinds of saws. “Look, Daddy! Table saw! Mitre saw! Scroll saw! Band saw!” Got some very odd looks from the other customers at the store. Can’t imagine why - you would think they would know that there were different kinds of saws at Home Depot.) 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/18/08 at 12:02 PM ET
Helm in, Hartigan out tonight.
Thank the gods.
What kind of pictures does Hartigan have, anyway?
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/18/08 at 12:04 PM ET
No single goalie can be as brilliant, and frustratingly mediocre at the same time like Dom can.
Geez, isn’t that the truth!
Posted by Cwix from Roanoke, VA on 04/18/08 at 12:09 PM ET
So, I have pulled out all the stops today. Wearing The Captain’s jersey in the now home red. Wearing a Red Wings t-shirt underneath. Red hair ribbon, red shoes with white pinstripes. I’m channeling the hockey gods major. Get this, my daughter even got Red Wings colors on her braces this morning. Her orthodontist is a good Red Wings fan as well. We have got to get our good mojo going! When I get home, shots out of the Red Wings shot glass.
Come on boys, LET’S GO RED WINGS!!!!!
Passing out back on the floor of the stress train where I have been all year. Sigh.
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 04/18/08 at 12:48 PM ET
Am I the only one who would like to see Downey in the line-up, if for no other reason than to stir up some EMOTION on this team? It seems that the Wings play in a very machine-like way. Not overly exuberant when they win, not terribly distressed when they lose. Don’t get me wrong, that is very admirable. But, THIS IS THE PLAYOFFS! We need to be PISSED OFF right now that we’ve allowed these banjo pickin, train whistling, wouldn’t know the difference between a face-off and a jerk-off fanbase to help their team make this a harder series than it should be. If you’re going to the game tonight PLEASE, PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE let the national audience know we are a PROUD franchise and have tremendous fans. I’m sick to death about hearing how great the Nashville fans are and how loud they get. While repeatedly being reminded how many empty seats there are at the Joe. It’s not how many but how LOUD you can be. If we want our team to man-up we need our crowds to encourage them… (falling off soapbox) Sorry, if you want me I’ll be in the Club car, drunk, railing against the hockey gods…
Posted by Mike from La-La Land on 04/18/08 at 01:00 PM ET
Agreed. I’d like to see some more emotion from Drake and McCarty as well, should Downey not get the nod. We brought Mac back into the fold for a reason and I’d like to see the organization’s faith in him affirmed tonight.
Posted by AndrewB from TN on 04/18/08 at 01:12 PM ET
It’s not like Detroit has Dan Cloutier for a backup, after all.
With all of those long shots that were going in, it sure as heck looked like we had Cloutier in goal at times.
Posted by Modnar from Cincinnati, OH on 04/18/08 at 01:35 PM ET
Am I the only one who would like to see Downey in the line-up
Absolutely not, I am shocked we haven’t seen him yet. I would love to see him playing with McCarty
Posted by C3091 on 04/18/08 at 01:40 PM ET
Mike,
I have been saying this ever since this series began...where is the support in the “Joe?” The fans need to add some excietment and yell and scream, whatever it takes! This is playoff hockey.
I want the fans to Rock the “Joe” tonight!!!
AS for Ozzie....I send him blessings from the Hockey Gods...I do believe he will be fine!
GO GO GO WINGS!!!
Posted by dwingsrock on 04/18/08 at 01:54 PM ET
I agree with you Andrew; calling on Lids to be Yzerman-like is unfair. Actually, it strikes me as a spoiled fan base too used to seeing heroic leadership. (And F*** Messier for being hyped more than Stevie; stupid msm)
TeamDub needs to do a 300 style shot of Yzerman!
Although I’m usually pretty positive about this team, I’m not feeling good about them right now. I do think Ozzie will help, but I’m not sure why Helm is going in rather than Abbadabbadoo; I suppose it’s what they’ve each shown in practice, but Abs has proven himself in big situations.
Schedule for the day: Breathe, drink, wait, breathedrinkwait, drinkwait drinkwait drink
Posted by Osrt on 04/18/08 at 02:12 PM ET
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AS far as goaltending goes Osgood has always been my man. I have no faith in The Floppinator. If he isn’t able to play back to back during the regular season, how can he go every other night in the playoffs? It is obvious the team plays with more confidence in front of Ozzie. He is younger, he has improved his play, and he is a pure Wing. Since this series began I have called Ozzie our “Silver Lining.” He has won two Stanley Cup Rings, and has the experience for a deep long run. He plays the puck well in the zone and he is not a mental case. So “BRING IT ON!” Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa. on 04/18/08 at 06:31 AM ET