I expect Howard to appear in 35 to 40 games this season, with Osgood getting into 45 or so games. Osgood hasn't had a good preseason, and a poor regular season led to a lower than expected number of starts last year. Combined with Ozzie's age, I don't think there will be much push to get Ozzie 50+ starts. I don't know what system Babcock will use, perhaps alternating starts. The time Osgood will probably begin to carry the load is down the stretch, as he begins to tune up for the playoffs.
Howard is a fairly classic butterfly goaltender. His biggest asset is his size. He's listed at 6' even, but with good positioning he covers what appears to be much of the net. His biggest weakness has been a lack of consistency.
Howard's play will determine how many games he and Ozzie will play. I'd start it at 55/27 but put it on slide scale based on each guy's performance. If Ozzie plays well, he'll get the bulk of the starts with Howard getting spot starts. If Howard can play better, he'll cut into Ozzie's workload and maybe allow Babs to give more rest going into the spring.
We saw last year how valuable Conklin's play was for this team...it'll be on Howard to be a capable backup, not just a guy that gives the #1 goalie some rest like they have in Vancouver, Calgary, New Jersey and Dallas.
Howard's play will determine how many games he and Ozzie will play. I'd start it at 55/27 but put it on slide scale based on each guy's performance. If Ozzie plays well, he'll get the bulk of the starts with Howard getting spot starts. If Howard can play better, he'll cut into Ozzie's workload and maybe allow Babs to give more rest going into the spring.
We saw last year how valuable Conklin's play was for this team...it'll be on Howard to be a capable backup, not just a guy that gives the #1 goalie some rest like they have in Vancouver, Calgary, New Jersey and Dallas.
That's going to be a tall order. If they wanted that, they should have resigned Conklin.
goaltending has been as bad as last season, but so have stuart and lebda.
lebda has been terrible.
but i'll check everyone. i know lidstrom has not been scored on.
1 abdelkader, maltby, draper, lebda, ericsson (ES)
2 draper filppula stuart kronwall (PP)
3 cleary Z bertuzzi lebda stuart (ES)
4 cleary Z bertuzzi lebda rafalski (ES)
5 leino Z stuart kronwall (PP) (leino on PK??)
6 cleary filppula stuart ericsson (PP)
7 datsyuk homer franzen lebda ericsson (ES)
8 filppula leino williams lebda ericsson (ES)
9 draper filppula stuart ericsson (PP)
goaltending has been as bad as last season, but so have stuart and lebda.
lebda has been terrible.
but i'll check everyone. i know lidstrom has not been scored on.
1 abdelkader, maltby, draper, lebda, ericsson (ES)
2 draper filppula stuart kronwall (PP)
3 cleary Z bertuzzi lebda stuart (ES)
4 cleary Z bertuzzi lebda rafalski (ES)
5 leino Z stuart kronwall (PP) (leino on PK??)
6 cleary filppula stuart ericsson (PP)
7 datsyuk homer franzen lebda ericsson (ES)
8 filppula leino williams lebda ericsson (ES)
9 draper filppula stuart ericsson (PP)
He had been in the box for interference and had just come out (5 seconds) when Tkachuk scored.
goaltending has been as bad as last season, but so have stuart and lebda.
lebda has been terrible.
but i'll check everyone. i know lidstrom has not been scored on.
1 abdelkader, maltby, draper, lebda, ericsson (ES)
2 draper filppula stuart kronwall (PP)
3 cleary Z bertuzzi lebda stuart (ES)
4 cleary Z bertuzzi lebda rafalski (ES)
5 leino Z stuart kronwall (PP) (leino on PK??)
6 cleary filppula stuart ericsson (PP)
7 datsyuk homer franzen lebda ericsson (ES)
8 filppula leino williams lebda ericsson (ES)
9 draper filppula stuart ericsson (PP)
I couldnt help but notice stuart and lebda got singled out but ericsson was on for 5 goals over the 2 games as well... I like him as much as the next guy but he has positional problems and i wonder why you dont mention him.
I couldnt help but notice stuart and lebda got singled out but ericsson was on for 5 goals over the 2 games as well... I like him as much as the next guy but he has positional problems and i wonder why you dont mention him.
I noticed Z and Filppula were on for many goals as well, while Lidstrom and Datsyuk for none.
Surprise? It is a surprise Datsyuk got no points since he is something like 2 PPG vs the Blues.
They figured him out?!
I couldnt help but notice stuart and lebda got singled out but ericsson was on for 5 goals over the 2 games as well... I like him as much as the next guy but he has positional problems and i wonder why you dont mention him.
good point. i missed all of game 2, when ericsson was scored on 4 times.
stuart was terrible on PK last season, and so it was easy to notice again this season.
lebda's horrible defensive play has been hard to ignore.
imo, ericsson's main problem is that he gives the puck away so often in the defensive zone, but his defensive positioning also needs work.
but i should say that several GA were not the fault of any d-man. goals 3 and 4 in game 2 were bad goals by howard. lebda and ericsson were on the ice for both, and although lebda was partly at fault on the 4th goal, howard should have stopped both.
goaltending has been as bad as last season, but so have stuart and lebda.
lebda has been terrible.
but i'll check everyone. i know lidstrom has not been scored on.
1 abdelkader, maltby, draper, lebda, ericsson (ES)
2 draper filppula stuart kronwall (PP)
3 cleary Z bertuzzi lebda stuart (ES)
4 cleary Z bertuzzi lebda rafalski (ES)
5 leino Z stuart kronwall (PP) (leino on PK??)
6 cleary filppula stuart ericsson (PP)
7 datsyuk homer franzen lebda ericsson (ES)
8 filppula leino williams lebda ericsson (ES)
9 draper filppula stuart ericsson (PP)
Lebda was on the ice for ALL ES goals - 5 goals??
Stuart was on the ice for ALL PP goals - 4 goals??
Ericsson was on the ice for 5 goals??
Even taking away the ES goals that shouldn't have happened - 7 and 8 - Lebda was STILL on the ice for all ES goals.
On the positive side of things:
-Kronwall was only on the ice for 2 goals against, both PP goals, and both playing with Stuart.
-Rafalski was only scored on ONCE, playing with Lebda
-Lidstrom was not scored on at all
Its not obvious to see the trend here - Our #1 Dman isnt scored on at all. Our #2 Dman is scored on once. Our #3 Dman? Twice. Our #4 Dman? Four times. Our bottom pairing? 5 apiece.
If you ask me, its pretty obvious that - surprise - our D pairings suck. They sucked last year, and they suck this year. And for this, I blame Babcock. I think hes a great coach, but if theres one thing he sucks at, its composing pairings and linemates, while ignoring what works.
imo, ericsson's main problem is that he gives the puck away so often in the defensive zone, but his defensive positioning also needs work.
I agree with this, but I also think hes the best Dman we have in containing forwards along the boards. Thats why I think he would make a great partner for Lidstrom, who can focus on the outlet pass, and guide Ericsson's D zone positioning.
