Osgood? HEDHS no- OSGREAT. Chris Osgood racks up 400 in a stunner

400!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 After three gut wrenching periods and OT, with 50 damn good shots on goal and a 30-(er PLUS) something Ozzie standing on his head like a 25 year old kid, future HHOF Chris Osgood of the Detroit Red Wings joins 10 of the best goaltenders in history to rack up his 400th win.

Not to mention a career high of 47-48(?) saves…

Congratulations Oz- Nobody Beats the Wiz. Nobody deserves this record more. Nobody deserves the accolades and congratulations that you will be receiving in the coming days.

Thank you Nic Lidstrom for that top shelf slapper which took our boys up 3-2 in regulation (and also jumping up in a couple record stats categories yourself). Thank you Nic for playing your heart out for Oz. You too Z. Holy shizz Z, that steal with 3 seconds???  ZZZZ!!! and MULE, you are a monster.  Berts- sniping like he’s 28 again. Don’t think we didn't notice. OH HOMER! coming back after the puck to the face? I am proud of you all. And I thank you for stepping it up despite a damn bench worth of injuries. Dats, Cleary, Modano, B-Raf (who am I missing?).

Do I feel bad for chastising all of you last week after tonight's show stopper? Hmm, uh, well, no. Sorry, we all know it would have been much sweeter for Oz to win at home. But I do forgive you.  And how about this- When called to arms, you the amazing Detroit Red Wings, never let us down. Thanks for not letting Oz down tonight.

AND FINALLY, THANK YOU KRONNER FOR THAT OVERTIME WINNER. Sure it was heart-wrenching to deal with overtime. I was only a little sick to my stomach, but I wasn't crying yet. Plus its indisputable that Oz looked to Great in Goal. Maybe his play elevated all of you tonight and you fed off each other's energy. Whatever it was, it was a gorgeous PP, picture perfect power play goal. Tic Tac toe baby. Assists by Nic and Z, all wonderful, a great effort. An Os-Great effort.

Nobody beats the Wiz. Nobody beats the Wiz.

Love ya Ozzie- Detroit Loves ya, Michigan Loves ya. We know you are one of the all-time best to ever guard a net.

Now go get Fuhr…And Stay Big. You are playing so well this month, we love it!

American bloggers making fun of the American stereotype

The Sleeping Giant

If you're taking this site at all seriously, then you're missing the entire point of it.

This is a USA - World Junior Hockey Championships blog. And it's run by two of the most sarcastic and caustically humored guys that you'll come across in the hockey blogging world. One is a Leafs fan who writes for Pension Plan Puppets on SB Nation, and the other has a general NHL blog, The Two-Line Pass (and contributes to Yahoo Sports' Puck Daddy blog), where he lampoons everyone pretty equally. Which should tell you everything you need to know about this particular blog.

This WJC blog isn't making fun of other countries. Not even close. They're making fun of their fellow Americans. They're intentionally playing up all of the bad American stereotypes and trying to be funny about it. So if non-Americans are getting all worked up over this site, then they joke's on them. That's not what it's about.

There isn't a lot of press or publicity here in the US when it comes to international hockey. So, they're working the ugly American gag to get attention. And, frankly, I think it's hysterically funny because it is so over the top.

So, sit back and enjoy Americans ripping into, and making fun of, Americans. And don't take it personally. Really. It's not that we're oblivious to what the rest of the world thinks of us. (Okay, some of us are.) It's just that most of us don't care about what the rest of the world thinks of us. (Though, some of us do actually care.)

Have a laugh on us. Or, on the US. Either way, it works.

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.  

Kinda-Quarter mark reviews - update

Following a brief hiatus, our correspondents are (wo)manfully straining to complete the remaining team reviews this side of the playoffs.  Follow the LINK to see the latest updates.

Monthly NHL injury analysis

If you are so inclined (i.e. want to justify your team's bad start by pointing and whining about injuries), LW Industries has churned out a second analysis for 2010/11 at the following fine, fine location:

Springing Malik: The Pain Game 2010/11 - Part Two

Why I WILL Be Watching the Winter Classic

There is a lot of talk among both my internet friends and my actual family and friends about just not watching the Winter Classic this year. So many people are disappointed with the match-up. People are not only angry about the Penguins getting their second Winter Classic after having one in '08, which is definitely understandable. But on top of that people are angry with it being the "media made" rivalry of Crosby and Ovechkin. It's not just going to be about the Penguins Vs. the Capitals. We all know it's going to be made into a Crosby vs. Ovechkin frenzy.

But I am actually excited for the Winter Classic just as I am every season. The first Winter Classic was automatically great because it was the first one, but I thought the snow made it even better. The second Winter Classic between Chicago and Detroit was outstanding. The two teams hate each other and the game was made part of a home and home series. The '10 Winter Classic was near and dear to my heart because I got to see my favorite team play in it which was very special.

Happy Birthday to Recon Blogger MCHIONSKY- annnnnnd IGOR LARIONOV!

Happy Happy Joy Joy, its a great day for birthin'. To clarify, 2 of my favorite people were born today and we here at Hockey Recon give a warm shout out to Mikey and Igor. But of course, a shout out isn't enough... did you really think you'd get away with mere written word?

In honor of the day, Former Grinder Front Man and Legendary Detroit Red Wing, Darren McCarty, has been "tapped" for  this little Ditty...

Ahem. Oh- to clarify: Dmac didn't actually make this or even consent to starring in the video. This a Juicer Special made with google images, photoshop, jibjab and vodka.  But we all know Dmac is a badass and if he knew Mchi, how cool Mchi is, and what a great Red Wing fan Mchi is, Dmac would totally wail a birthday tune  for him...

Finally, a shout of thanks to Fellow Recon member Alicia for reminding me of Igor's Birth! Please read her amazing Winter Classic blog, you know after you watch this video and wish Mich a happy day