Osgood Shuts Out Pens, Shuts-Up Critics—Finally

The Stanley Cup playoffs aren't over yet, but a statement has been made. The Red Wing's 5-0 win over the Penguins last night in game five was a champion reclaiming their position on throne, putting their foot upon the neck of a fallen foe, reminding everyone watching the bout that they own the crown until another team hoists the trophy over their head.

This isn't the statement you may think it was, it was simply the fifth game in a seven-game series, and someone has to go up when the series is tied at two.

That the Wings came out on top shouldn't be much a surprise; adding Pavel Datsyuk, their Hart Trophy candidate, gives them them their Crosby equivalent (who plays defense) to their already loaded roster.

No, the real statement was made by Chris Osgood, the Red Wings' 36-year-old goaltender. Ozzie is one win away from having his name etched onto the cup for the fourth time in his career; and, in this man's opinion, deserving of his first playoff MVP award, cementing his place in the Hall of Fame.

Throughout his 15-year career, Osgood has had to prove his legitimacy more than any other goaltender who sits in the top 10 of all-time. With 389 wins—his career 2.47 GAA would place him fourth behind Hasek, Brodeur, and Jacques Plante—he has always been seen as a tag-along, piggy-backing on the mighty Red Wing teams.

Before I moved to Indianapolis this month, after spending the first 26 years of my life in Detroit, I had to listen to radio personalities, as well as columnists, debate this topic.

For the last 15 years the Wings have been the class of the NHL, competing on a yearly basis with formidable offensive firepower; dependable, world-class defense; and the goalies were along for the ride.

But, when he left in '01-'02, he led the Islanders to the playoffs for the first time since 1994. But, the unfair expectations of perfection for Osgood—something he never was—had him sent to St.Louis at the trading deadline the next year. He played in 67 games for the blues in '03-'04, leading them to the playoffs with a 2.24 GAA.

Now, he had his moments of futility: The image of a rookie in '94 crying at his locker room stall after allowing the expansion Sharks to beat the heavily favored Wings, multiple shots at half-ice let in at inexplicable moments in the playoffs plagued him for years, and this season's 10-game vacation towards the end of the season "to get his head right", have all provided enough evidence of someone with a weak mental make up.

As a former goaltender, myself, I can say the position is more mental than physical. Agility and hand-eye coordination are important skills, but the desire to be the backdrop for frozen,  high-speed rubber wads requires a brain that is uniquely wired.

And that's what makes this man's career so confounding and amazing at the same time. Before game one of the playoffs that we'd seen, Ozzie hit his ceiling, and surely the fire-power of Crosby and Malkin was going to get the best of the Wings. Surely the weary, old goaltender was no match for this young, dynamic Pittsburgh team.

Injuries have never been an issue, so I was mistaken for thinking his body would fail him now. His mind was always the cause for concern, and at 36, the man is coming up with the best hockey of his career. I don't put a lot of stock into stats, personally, as Osgood's 2.00 GAA is great, but he's had better playoffs statistically before in his career

What I have seen is a goalie who has turned his reputation around and defying expectations. He's stood on his head these playoffs, stopping breakaways from Malkin, and stoning Crosby on the doorstep more than once.

Osgood has gone from letting in the inevitable soft goal, to a game-stealing goaltender, more focused with age.