Chris Osgood will never, ever be confused for Martin Brodeur or Roberto Luongo but when the chips are down, this guy is just as good as any goalie in the NHL. Osgood turning in one of his best ever playoff performances as Detroit takes a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference final with a 3-2 overtime win. Mikael Samuelsson got the winner, but it was the Detroit goalie who was the hero. He made several big saves, and as a result, Detroit is in a position now to likely advance to the Cup final. As good as Chicago is, I can't see them beating Detroit four times in the next five games.
When you think of Osgood you don't make comparisons to Brodeur or Luongo, but one can not look past the playoff resume he has built. He hasn't been flashy, but he has been effective. In the playoffs, he is arguably the best goaltender to play. Something about the second season allows this guy to turn it up a notch or two. It just asks these questions about him 1) Is he a hall-of-famer when his career is over especially if he backstops this team to the title and 2) Is he a candidate for the 3rd Canadian goaltender in Vancouver. Right now, one would have to say the honours would go Brodeur, Luongo and Ward but could Osgood get in there because of his playoff mentality.
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It was a nothing game for the Kelowna Rockets at the Memorial Cup. They know they will play in Sunday's final. Windsor wants to join them there, but the Ontario champs knew they had to beat the Rockets to have a chance at that. Windsor had more to play for and they get the win beating Kelowna 2-1. The win means Windsor will play the loser of the Drummondville-Rimouski game in a tiebreaker game. The winner of that game moves into the semi-final.
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I like the NBA draft lottery. Any team not making the playoffs has the chance at picking number 1. The better they are, the less chance they have but all teams have a shot. As a result, the Los Angeles Clippers who had the 3rd best opportunity of winning had their ping-pong ball come out meaning they will likely take Oklahoma's Blake Griffin with the first pick. Toronto will pick number 9, but they had a chance at landing the first overall selection. This is now the NHL should do it as well. A team like the Oilers has no chance at getting the number one pick even though they didn't make the playoffs, while it is almost a certainty that the worst team in the regular season will get that first choice. Its a formula the NHL needs to change.
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Rider fans continue to wonder about Matt Dominguez and whether or not he will sign a new contract with the team before training camp begins. Its hard to say whether that will happen and if it does what role "88" will have this year. Meanwhile, another former Rider receiver continues to look for work. What has happened to D-J Flick??? He is a free agent and its obvious the Riders have no interest in him, but I find it hard to believe no other team doesn't want him either. This is a guy who has 1-thousand yard seasons under his belt. My only guess is that broken ankle is still giving him problems. I wonder if he will pop up on a roster anytime soon.
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The Riders plaza of honor recipients for this year will be named later today. I wonder what former greats will be inducted as one of the all-time greats. Over 100 players are currently in the Plaza. I know who one of the inductees will be and while I won't say who he was, Rider fans I think will react favourably to it. (No, its not 747 Adams...where is he anyhow I wonder!! Probably dead!)
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Michael Vick gets out of prison this week and it has everyone wondering when and if he will make a return to the NFL. Some ask if he even should be allowed back in the league after serving his time for a dogfighting conspiracy. He has paid his debt to society and he should be allowed to continue his career but I wonder what type of reaction he will get and if he is even close to being the player he was when he left. Someone will take a gamble on him----as long as its not the Seahawks. Imagine if he went to Cleveland. (Think about that one for a while!!)
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The best story in sports today might be what is being called "The Denver Debacle". Vince MacMahon is getting a lot of free publicity after it was learned WWE Raw was scheduled to go at Denver's Pepsi Center this Monday but now that can't happen because of Game 4 of the NBA West final between the Lakers and Nuggets. McMahon has had the building booked for quite a while and he is pissed. He should be. However, Vince is missing out on having a really big show Monday. He talks about having his two hour extravaganza in a parking lot somewhere in Denver if he has to. Why not seeing if he can hold the event right next door to the Pepsi Centre at Invesco Field or on the other side of downtown Denver and have it at Coors Field. An outdoor show on Memorial Day evening would pack in a lot of people and likely give Vince more money than a show at the Pepsi Center. I'm guessing a few "heels" will come out wearing L-A Lakers jerseys on Monday. Stay tuned!!!
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The 2013 Super Bowl is going to New Orleans. Hard to believe the NFL's big game has not been in the big easy since 2002.
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I still can't see why anyone would find a Big Mac Wrap appetizing!!!!
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Blue Jays fans---ask yourself this question today. Who is the team MVP so far??? Roy Halladay or Aaron Hill. Tough choice!!
9 comments:
Why does everyone forget about Marc-Andre Fleury when it comes to Olympic goalie?? The guy has proven himself.
Good question on DJ Flick
I go with Halladay over Hill---but not by much. Halladay Cy Young. Hill MVP. Still a long ways to go.
Good morning Mitch,
To answer your Chris Osgood question the simple answer is yes. Yes, Chris Osgood is a Hall of Famer, and on the first ballot. I always hear about Curtis Joseph being this great Goalie, and Osgood is quite frankly better.
Osgood has over 360 wins, and he'll get to 400 before his career ends. 2 Stanley Cups, which in a month will probably be 3. He's shared 2 Jennings Trophies. He's a HOF in the same class that Billy Smith and Grant Fuhr are HOF's. When you needed them they were there.
In my life of watching hockey I have only seen 3 goalies who needed a separate league to play in as they were that much better than everyone else. They being Hasek, Roy, and Brodeur in that order. Everyone else is mortal.
Obama
Osgood is inconsistent in the regular season and that is why he has his detractors. He does get it done during the playoffs though. He outplayed Chicago's goalie and that is why they won last night.
Marc-Andre Fleury is like Grant Fuhr. Never considered as one of the best because of the offence that played up front. He can give up four and still win.
The NHL draft lottery is a joke. WHen the team that has the best chance of winning has that chance at over 50 percent it is rather anti-climactic.
Do you think Barrett or Shivers will ever get into the Plaza of Honor??
SM
I heard DJ Flick wasn't the best guy in the locker-room and started to become troublesome once he found out he wasn't playing again last year. Any truth to that?? If there is, it might be a reason as to why teams aren't signing him. I keep thinking Wally is going to grab him.
Okay, I'll bite. Why would Danny Barrett even be considered for the Plaza? The man had a losing record in his time as a head coach here.
Shivers is a much more intriquing possibility, considering the turnaround in performance - and attitude - he oversaw. However, internal politics will likely keep "The Shiv" out of the Plaza for many more years. He pee'd off too many in a position of influence when it comes to the selection process.
Danny Barrett took what was essentially an expansion team and got it to 2 Western Final appearances. There is nobody that would think the teams he coached in 2000 and 2001 were anywhere near able to do anything. They had to build the roster, then his QB he was developing bolts to the NFL. That screwed up things royally. Barrett and Shivers brought this team back to respectability. Every Management/Coaching tandem has a shelf life. They had theirs, and when you look at the body of work it was good for the Plaza.
All the Big Mac taste, less carbs and calories in a wrap than a bun. What's not to like?
KC
If MAF made the Olympic team ahead of guys like Ward, Price, Mason, etc. etc, I would not be happy. I think MAF is highly over-rated.
If Osgood wins another Cup before calling it quits, I would consider him for the HOF. What about Mike Vernon??
Correction. Shivers brought the team back to respectability. His head coach prevented the team from reaching championship calibre status.
There are four teams in the West. Two of them make the division final every year. Not exactly a Vince Lombardi-esque accomplishment.
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