Ozzie, we hardly knew ye

Why do the Blues always seem to have such bad luck when it comes to goaltenders?

They never seem to play as well here as they did elsewhere, or they generate little attention here and go on to a higher level in another uniform.

A quick check of the Playoff statistics shows former Blues netminder Chris Osgood at the top of the postseason heap with a 1.52 goals-against average.

“Ozzie” is 6-0 in the playoffs this spring with one shutout and a .937 save percentage. He displaced Dominik Hasek, who was yanked early in the second period of Game 4 in the opening-round series against Nashville, helped the Red Wings nail down that series and then played well in a second-round sweep of Colorado.

Osgood was once waived in a previous stint with Detroit to make room for Hasek’s return.
During the regular season, Osgood was 27-9-4 with a 2.09 goals-against and four shutouts. He also helped the Red Wings win the 1998 Stanley Cup.

Osgood has a 27-10-3 lifetime record against the Dallas Stars, Detroit’s opponent in the Western Conference finals.

I’ve always wondered if the ridiculous stats compiled by Detroit goaltenders are a product of the talent around them, their own talent, or a little of both. It also helps to have all-universe defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom on the ice in all important situations.

Osgood didn’t exactly make Blues fans forget about Mike Liut while he was here. He was 4-8 in 12 playoff games form 2002-04 and 35-28-10 with a 2.34 goals-against average in 76 regular-season contests.

Osgood was certainly good here, but not great. He also was in net when the flu-ridden Blues blew a 3-1 lead in their first-round series against Vancouver in 2003.

But put him back with the Red Wings and he assumes an other-worldly status once again.
Former Red Wing Manny Legave compiled a 37-8 record with seven shutouts with Detroit in 2003-04, but wasn’t retained after the team lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Legace has been solid with the Blues, compiling a 50-40-13 record in two seasons as the starter. He always says playing with the Red Wings taught him the commitment level it takes to win and he’s tried to bring that same approach to the Blues’ dressing room.

Maybe he’ll have better luck next season.

Former Blues goalie Curtis Joseph saw action in two playoff games for Mike Keenan’s Calgary Flames, winning his only decision.

— Norm Sanders

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