Detroit Red Wings play abysmally, fail to honor Chris Osgood.

In the hundreds of Red Wings blogs I have written, I doubt you’ll find a truly negative word written about the Detroit Red Wing team, organization and its legendary players. I may occasionally call some players and coaches out, but not like I am about to do. In the 25+ years I have had occasion to be a Red Wings fan, this team hasn’t ever before disappointed me, excepting you know, parts of the mid 80’s. 

In 25 years this team hasn't ever disappointed me the way it did last night.

How could you? How could you let Ozzie down like that? Nic, Pavel, B-Raf, Z, Homer -Drapes? DRAPES! How could you? Yea, I am calling you all out. You all have been there with him through the great majority of his career. You all, better than anyone else, know how much Oz deserves to achieve this hall of fame-esque milestone.

What a faulking abysmal game, what a lackluster effort. Losing to Dallas? With Raycroft in net and Crawford on the bench? COME ON!! I am so disgusted, I can barely contain it.   

What is it? Do you just think once Oz in in goal, he can handle it all by himself? Did you just forget that this game could have been a historical momentous occasion? Or did you let Dallas school you? Hm?

BTW- this loss WAS NOT Ozzie’s fault. It was a clear breakdown of defense, sloppy puck handling and turnovers that you all should have been much, much sharper about. Oz stood on his head making the kind of acrobatic saves we usually only see when we are down in the 7^th game of a SCF.  Did you not see how amped he was, how "in it" he was the whole game, doing all the little things Oz does so well, like keeping the play going when any other goalie would have covered the puck, helping on the power play, mid air leaping saves? How did you all fail to see how badly he wanted this 400th win last night?

The rest of us saw it. And you boys broke our hearts. Good thing Oz's heart is bigger than all of ours combined.

And Coach Babs, don’t think I didn’t notice that you didn’t make it any easier on Oz. Look.  I get that you like to play with and mix up lines. And with the recent slump the boys are dragging their sticks through, I know mixing up lines is your go-to move. While I don’t always see the success in this strategy that some of my better learned hockey fan brethren do, I respect you and your talent and success enough to keep most of my grumbling to myself. But dammit- it wasn’t working for our D last night. 

Trouble is, the two points don’t really matter at this point in the season. What does matter is a career milestone. It was Oz that suffered. The most loyal, sincere, honest player on your team. The guy who cares as much about Detroit Red Wing Hockey as all of us combined. The guy who cares more about the Detroit Red Wing Fans, Family and Community than all of us combined.  Here is just one of a bazillion speeches Ozzie has given thanking and being grateful for all of the Red Wing Community.

It wasn’t just another mid-season, pre-holiday 2 point game. This was Number 400. A game that meant a lot to the one person who should have mattered the most yesterday: Chris Osgood.

The one guy who deserved to see his 400^th win at home, in front of a holiday sellout crowd, with his family and closest friends and teammates right there with him.

How could you let Ozzie down?  Ozzie.

The goaltender with the biggest heart, who fights adversity, wins in the clutch, who brought you (us) THREE Stanley Cups. The goaltender who has, time and time again, saved your asses when all your “super star” goaltenders had nothing left. The biggest heart, the most clutch goalie. And the most unsung future hall of fame deserving goaltender that ever will be.

This is Ozzie we are talking about.  Get your shit together boys, Coach. You owe him. We all do.

Shame on you. Can’t believe I ever had to say this. Can’t believe it relates to Ozzie.