Archive for the 'Dominik Hasek' CategoryPage 2 of 7

2/11 Notes

Published
by
Matt Saler
on February 11, 2008
in Dominik Hasek, Ducks and Injuries
. 3 Comments

… I don’t have a recap for the Ducks game, but I will say a few things about it. First, Anaheim outplayed Detroit yesterday. The Wings looked exactly like a team that had played the day before and they were fortunate to keep it close. That said, the Ducks got some huge breaks.

The non-call on a clear case of goaltender interference by Kunitz was just one example.  The incessant interference on Detroit forwards skating into the zone was another. The Samuelsson diving call was one more.

The biggest break, however, came with 40.7 seconds left.

I’m a firm believer in the idea that profanity should only be used sparingly and in times of extreme emotion.  Otherwise it loses its shock value. I’ve been pissed off enough before to use language I would otherwise not use on this site, but I have so far refrained from doing so. Not this time, however.

I’m in frank agreement with the fans at Joe Louis Arena: Dan O’Halleran’s call on Nick Lidstrom’s goal was bullshit.

That’s all I have to say about that. Read the post and comments at Abel to Yzerman if you want more. George Malik’s essay-like comment is particularly worth a read.

… As if a three-game losing streak wasn’t bad enough, more bad news has come: Dominik Hasek has an inflammed hip flexor and is day-to-day.

Bruce MacLeod reports that the team claims Dom’s new status is strictly precautionary and that he could return as soon as Sunday’s road game against the Stars.

This is certainly no time to panic, as the Wings still have a league leader who can take over the reigns once again: Chris Osgood. Obviously, a healthy Dom is preferable over an injured one, but there’s no need to rush him back. The key thing is that he be healthy for the playoffs.

In Hasek’s absence, Jimmy Howard will take the team’s backup role. To make room for him, Niklas Kronwall has been placed on the IR.

Wings 3, Stars 0

Published
by
Matt Saler
on January 5, 2008
in Chris Osgood and Dominik Hasek
. 0 Comments

I’ll have a few more comments on this game tomorrow morning, but for now I will say this:

After Hasek’s stellar 22-save performance today, it’s absolutely time to stop with comments like “… Hasek’s extremely shaky goaltending …” and “… doubts about Dominik Hasek in goal …”  While those things may have been true even a month ago, they simply aren’t any more.

At this point in time, between Chris Osgood and Dominik Hasek, the Detroit Red Wings have the best goaltending front in the League. I don’t think it’s even close.

1/4 Notes

Published
by
Matt Saler
on January 4, 2008
in Aaron Downey, Chris Osgood, Dominik Hasek, Injuries and Tomas Holmstrom
. 2 Comments

Update (4:22 PM): Just noticed that there’s a line about Kopecky in Khan’s post that I don’t remember seeing before. Either I missed it when I first published this post or it was added later, after I asked him about it. - Matt

Update (4:12 PM):  Ted Kulfan clarifies the Holmstrom situation with comment from Tomas on returning to the lineup versus Chicago:

“That’s the plan right now. We’ll see how it feels. I’ll skate again tomorrow (Saturday in Dallas) and hopefully I’ll be able to play (Sunday).”

- Matt

Update (2:16 PM): I shot off an email to Ansar Khan a few minutes ago and have already heard back. Apparently, Tomas Kopecky told him he’s fine and that he’ll be in the lineup tomorrow.

He practiced both days since the injury, so obviously it wasn’t a big deal. - Matt

Ansar Khan reports:

… Kirk Maltby (back strain) is hoping to return to the lineup Tuesday night against the Avalanche. This is contrast with Helene St. James’ report of earlier this week that stated he was looking at a January 12th return. Obviously, he’s made some big strides since Wednesday.

… Tomas Holmstrom  (knee bruise) is confident he’d be able to play tomorrow in Dallas, but says the team won’t let him. He’s hoping to suit up for the game in Chicago on Sunday.

… Both Khan and Bruce MacLeod confirm once again that Dominik Hasek will start versus the Stars while Chris Osgood will face the Blackhawks.

… No word on Tomas Kopecky, who was reported by FSN Detroit to have suffered a hand injury in the third period Wednesday night. Either he’s fine or the media hasn’t picked up on it.

… Also, be sure to stop by HockeyTownTodd and wish Baroque happy birthday. And read her piece on Aaron Downey.

There’s also Abel to Yzerman, calling out the Detroit sports media “since 1977.”

… Lastly, be sure to check out the various player grades and mid-season reports the media has posted at the halfway point:

Meech sent to Grand Rapids

Published
by
Matt Saler
on January 3, 2008
in Chris Osgood, Derek Meech, Dominik Hasek, Roster Moves and Tomas Holmstrom
. 0 Comments

Update (8:01 PM): George Malik has some observations well worth reading. - Matt

Update (7:03 PM): Red Wings TV has added an interview of Meech before the media. Derek mostly talks about getting back into a groove as far as his game goes. - Matt

Update (2:40 PM): Helene St. James has more, including quotes from Meech as well as Mike Babcock, and an alternate return date: January 17th.  - Matt

Ansar Khan reports that the Wings have re-assigned Derek Meech to the AHL on a conditioning stint.

As per Article 13.8 of the CBA (large PDF), Meech does not have to clear waivers to go down to Grand Rapids for conditioning and therefore is not in danger of being claimed by another team, though the League will review this move to ensure the Wings’ aren’t merely circumventing the waivers. The fact that Meech is little more than a 7th wheel on the Wings’ defensive bus, and that the team has no need to clear up roster space, has to mean there won’t be a problem.

He can only stay with the Griffins for 14 days, which will put him in six games and bring him back to Detroit just in time to accompany the Wings on their three-game California trip beginning January 19th.

This is a class move by the Wings. Meech has no doubt picked up a lot in practice watching guys like Nick Lidstrom, Chris Chelios, and Brian Rafalski, but there’s no substitute for actually playing. As a promising young defenseman, his career has in many ways been put on hold this year, so anything the Wings can do to get him playing time is a good thing.

Khan also reports that Tomas Holmstrom is looking at returning  either Sunday in Chicago or Tuesday versus Colorado.

Also, predictably, Dominik Hasek will start Saturday and will back up Chris Osgood on Sunday.

12/18 Update

Published
by
Matt Saler
on December 18, 2007
in Dominik Hasek, Henrik Zetterberg, Kirk Maltby and Kris Draper
. 0 Comments

… Ansar Khan  reports that Dominik Hasek will start tomorrow night versus LA, while Chris Osgood will start Thursday. While that goes against the rotation policy, it’s not an unusual move as the Wings prefer that Dom go through the same day-long warm up process before every game he plays and that’s just not possible on the second day of a back-to-back, particularly when they have to fly to another city.

… Khan also says Kris Draper will return to the lineup tomorrow night. I’m guessing that will mean Aaron Downey will sit, but Mike Babcock wouldn’t reveal anything to the media.

… Khan’s final update is on Kirk Maltby, who doesn’t see himself returning until New Year’s Eve at the earliest. Via Red Wings TV, here is the interview from which Khan got his quotes from Malts.

… Lastly, be sure to check out the NHL’s Frozen Moment (alternate link) today. (via Snapshots)

12/6 Practice Update

Published
by
Matt Saler
on December 6, 2007
in Dominik Hasek, Injuries, Kirk Maltby and Kris Draper
. 0 Comments

Update (2:58 PM): Bruce MacLeod has another update:

… Dominik Hasek and Chris Osgood will likely rotate the upcoming games, with Hasek starting the rotation tomorrow. That would put Chris Osgood between the pipes on Sunday.

… Contrary to what I say below, Kris Draper apparently will skate tomorrow, with a brace, before the rest of the team does. - Matt

Briefly:

… Bruce MacLeod reports that Kirk Maltby (back) did not skate today, which means it’s highly unlikely he’ll return to the lineup tomorrow versus Minnesota. A Sunday return against Carolina is possible, though.

… Kris Draper (knee) also did not skate, but that’s to be expected as he’s not supposed to hit the ice again until later next week.

… Also, it looks as though Dominik Hasek will get his second-straight start tomorrow.

St. James: Osgood to start versus Phoenix

Published
by
Matt Saler
on November 30, 2007
in Aaron Downey, Chris Osgood, Dominik Hasek, Injuries, Links, Matt Ellis and Tomas Kopecky
. 0 Comments

Helene St. James reports that Chris Osgood will get his fourth straight start Saturday night against the Coyotes.

Personally, I’d like to see Dominik Hasek get a chance to get on track, but this gels with Bruce MacLeod’s report of earlier this week in which he reported that Dom would start either Saturday or Tuesday. Hopefully Babcock will stick with that plan, as Hasek needs some reps, even if Osgood is tearing it up.

Also, Kirk Maltby (back) did not skate today, so he will not dress tomorrow. Matt Ellis, having been cleared to play, will return to the lineup and will give the team some added defensive security. He practiced on the fourth line with Aaron Downey and Tomas Kopecky.

11/27 Injury Update

Published
by
Matt Saler
on November 28, 2007
in Chris Osgood, Dominik Hasek, Injuries, Kirk Maltby, Kris Draper, Matt Ellis and Tomas Kopecky
. 2 Comments

Update (4:40 PM): It looks like the Wings’ site is ramping up the news updates, even on off days. Nice to see. DetroitRedWings.com’s Bob Roose has more on Draper’s knee injury, including a better description of what happened and on the effect the injury will have on the roster make-up.

Also, a response to this piece by Ryan Dixon of The Hockey News, in which he berates Andreas Lilja for fighting Dion Phaneuf after the latter’s high hit on Jiri Hudler last night. Regardless of the cleanliness of the hit (a somewhat debatable point given the fact that Phaneuf left his feet and used his elbow), Lilja was perfectly within his rights to challenge the Flames defenseman. Like George Malik points out, Phaneuf did not have to accept the challenge and could have easily skated away. Few would have questioned his toughness.

Dixon betrays his true motivations for criticizing Lilja here:

Would the thinking go: “Well, I could give my team a lift by laying somebody out, but is that worth our worst defenseman getting more ice time while I sit in the box for five minutes?”

Dixon’s all wound up because Phaneuf is touted as a star in the League, whereas is Lilja a no-name player who had the gall to challenge him and take him off the ice, away from prospective fans, for a whole five minutes. Mr. Dixon, it’s part of the game and Lilja earned points with his own fanbase for the fight. It’s not all about Phaneuf. It’s too bad for the Flames that it happened in the last 7 minutes, but, again, Phaneuf didn’t have to fight. - Matt

Update (3:22 PM): Red Wings TV has added three post-practice interviews:

- Matt
… Bruce MacLeod reports that Kris Draper will be out 10-14 days with a knee sprain. That’s a big hit to the team’s defensive capablities, especially going into the game against the NHL points leader Vincent Lecavalier and Tampa Bay tomorrow night. It’s not the end of the world by any means, given the defensive talent on the roster, but the third line won’t be as effective at shutting the other team down.

… Tomas Kopecky has been cleared to play.

… It looks like the earliest Matt Ellis will be back is Tuesday night in Montreal.

… Kirk Maltby did not practice today and the reason given is a shoulder injury. MacLeod does not know his status for the Tampa Bay game. If he’s not able to go, the team will carry 7 defensemen or call up a forward from Grand Rapids in order to fill in the empty roster spot. Personally, I hope Derek Meech gets to see some ice time, if Maltby needs a night off. The last thing the Griffins need is to lose a forward, however temporarily.

… Apparently, Chris Osgood will start again tomorrow night. It’ll be his third start in a row. Dominik Hasek is slated to start either Saturday or Tuesday. Babcock says the strategy is to play Osgood more in the first half in order to rest Dom for the second half and the playoffs. Okay, I can believe that, but tell me Dom wouldn’t be starting more often if he were tearing it up like Osgood has been.

Khan: Osgood to start versus Calgary

Published
by
Matt Saler
on November 26, 2007
in Chris Osgood, Dominik Hasek, Injuries, Matt Ellis and Tomas Kopecky
. 0 Comments

Update (4:10 PM): Bruce MacLeod has more on the situation. Basically, Osgood is getting the team points, while Hasek is not. So, the “backup” gets the start while the “starter” sits. - Matt

Ansar Khan reports that Chris Osgood will get a second consecutive start Tuesday night versus the Flames. Something’s obviously going on behind the scenes here. Sure, Ozzie’s earned it, but Hasek is still nominally the starter and you’d think he’d be in net again after a strong showing Thursday night.

Khan also says that Matt Ellis did not skate today, as his headaches continue. Sounds like it could be a concussion, though Babcock professes to know nothing about it. Tomas Kopecky (shoulder) skated, but mostly by himself.

Osgood to start vs. St. Louis

Published
by
Matt Saler
on November 20, 2007
in Aaron Downey, Chris Osgood, Dominik Hasek and Matt Ellis
. 0 Comments

Bruce MacLeod reports that Chris Osgood will start in net tomorrow night versus the Blues. Why? To Mike Babcock (and most other people paying attention), it’s simple: “To me, he’s earned the right.” It’s looking more and more like IwoCPO’s right.

Dominik Hasek will start Thursday in Nashville after getting another day of practice with Jim Bedard, the goaltending coach.

Also, it looks like Aaron Downey will sit out after having a strong game Sunday. In practice today, he and Matt Ellis were the extra men on the fourth and second lines, respectively.

And some good news: the team practiced 5-on-3 defense today. As HockeyTownTodd has been pointing out, there seem to be more of those lately, so they might as well be prepared.

Lastly, I apologize for the dearth in posting over the past few days. School tasks have made it difficult to find time to attend to the blog, but I should be able to return to regular posting now. For a while, anyway.