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

Source

Tuesday's stuff . . .

I’m back after a quick trip into Alberta, which is where mallards go to die, isn’t it? . . . The Spokane Chiefs are in Alberta, too, after completely dominating the first two games of the WHL’s best-of-seven championship final. . . . The Hurricanes, however, went to something of a secret weapon prior to Tuesday night’s Game 3. . . . Former Lethbridge coach Bryan Maxwell, who now resides in Victoria, was in Lethbridge following the death of his father, Stan, and he chose to stick around. In fact, Maxwell was on the ice with the Hurricanes on Monday. . . . “Maxie’s a guy I’ve learned a lot from and who I’ve talked to regularly throughout the (season),” Hurricanes head coach Michael Dyck told the Lethbridge Herald. “We’re very thankful that he’s sticking around. He’s going to take the time to help us out, he obviously knows a lot about the game and he’s just here to give us some support.” . . . Maxwell has twice coached teams to Memorial Cup championships – the 1987 Medicine Hat Tigers and, yes, the 1991 Spokane Chiefs. . . .

---

Meanwhile, in Game 3, F Tyler Johnson, who is a native of Spokane, scored at 6:20 of overtime to give the Chiefs a 2-1 victory over the Hurricanes in Lethbridge. . . . The Chiefs lead the series 3-0 and can wrap up their first championship since 1991 on Wednesday night. . . . Johnson’s goal, his fourth of the playoffs, came off a rebound during a wild scramble. . . . The Hurricanes led this one 1-0 from the 19:57 mark of the second period after F Dwight King scored, only to have the Chiefs tie it on C Chris Bruton’s goal at 17:56 of the third period. . . . Johnson was hit with a holding penalty with 18 seconds left in the third period but the Lethbridge power play came up dry. The closest the home side came to scoring was when F Mitch Fadden drilled a post. . . . Spokane G Dustin Tokarski turned aside 22 shots, two fewer than Lethbridge’s Juha Metsola. . . . Attendance was 4,950. . . . Spokane was 0-for-1 on the PP; Lethbridge was 0-for-3. . . . Lethbridge F Carter Bancks didn’t skate Monday but played in Game 3. He is believed to have a lower body injury of some sort. Either that, or an upper body injury. Or maybe it’s the flu. . . .

--------

JUST NOTES: Getting caught up after a few days away we discover that Vancouver Giants F Garet Hunt has signed with the Springfield Falcons, the Edmonton Oilers’ AHL affiliate. Hunt, who goes about 5-foot-8 and 190 pounds, played out his WHL eligibility this season. He finished his career with 41 points and 542 penalty minutes in 193 regular-season games. Hunt led the WHL with 27 fighting majors this season. . . . Former Moose Jaw Warriors F Kelly Buchberger was the Falcons’ head coach this season, with former Kelown Rockets head coach Jeff Truitt as his assistant. There is speculation, however, that Buchberger will be promoted to the Oilers’ staff, perhaps at the expense of Rob Daum, another former WHL head coach who was on a one-year contract with the club. . . . The Calgary Flames have signed Swedish F Mikael Backlund, who was the 24^th selection in the’s 2007 draft. Backlund, who was terrific at the 2008 world junior championship, could play in the WHL next season – Kelowna holds his rights – but may end up in the AHL. . . .

The Regina Leader-Post is reporting that GM Brent Parker is expected to return for a 14^th season. He presently is involved in negotiations with IPSCO Place officials as the Pats’ lease on the Brandt Centre expires on May 31. . . . The Leader-Post’s Greg Harder writes: “Parker has made no secret of the fact that these lease negotiations could play a major role in a number of decisions, including his own future as well as the ownership of the franchise. It’s well known that there’s serious interest from a group that includes ex-Pats stars Mike Sillinger and Jamie Heward to purchase the team from Russ Parker. An ownership change isn’t imminent, although that could change if lease negotiations break down.” . . . RW Ian McKenzie of the Seattle Thunderbirds has signed a three-year free-agent deal with the’s Nashville Predators. He had 40 points in 68 games this season. Seattle acquired McKenzie, who has used up his WHL eligibility, from the Moose Jaw Warriors early in 2006-07.

Source

Peers name Iginla as top player finalist

TORONTO – The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) announced today that Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames, Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals are finalists for the 2007-08 Lester B. Pearson Award.

The Lester B. Pearson Award is presented annually to the “most outstanding player” in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA.

Iginla and Ovechkin have a previous history with the Lester B. Pearson Award. Iginla was the recipient of the award in 2001-02 and Ovechkin was a finalist in his 2005-06 rookie season.

This season, Iginla led the Flames to another hard-fought playoff berth as he notched the second 50 goal campaign of his career and punished opposing defenders all season long. Ovechkin, already able to count the Art Ross and Maurice Richard trophies among his collection this year, led the Capitals back to the playoffs and became the first player in 12 years to score 60 goals in a season. Malkin, meanwhile, solidified his place among the elite in the game with his first 100 point season (106), finishing second in the points race in his sophomore year in the NHL.

Named for the former Prime Minister of Canada, the Lester B. Pearson Award has been voted on by the players since the 1970-71 season, when Phil Esposito was the inaugural recipient. Many of the legends of hockey have been recipients of the Lester B. Pearson Award, including Bobby Orr, Guy Lafleur, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Steve Yzerman.

The Lester B. Pearson Award will be the first award presented during the NHL Awards Television Special in Toronto, Ontario on Thursday, June 12, 2008.

The finalists will allocate a total of $40,000 to the grassroots hockey programs of their choice through the NHLPA’s Goals & Dreams fund. The winner will assign $20,000 to his selected program, while the two finalists will each allocate $10,000.

Launched in November 1999, the Goals & Dreams fund was created by NHLPA members to assist grassroots hockey, and has distributed more than $16 million worldwide to a variety of hockey initiatives.

Jarome Iginla, of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, appeared in all 82 games for the Calgary Flames in 2007-08, finishing the season with 50 goals and 48 assists for a career high 98 points. The 2001-02 winner of the Lester B. Pearson Award, Iginla was once again a force on a nightly basis for Calgary, using his impressive skill set that combines speed, strength and a quick release. The 30-year-old right-winger has become the level by which all power forwards are measured. His experience and leadership abilities have elevated Iginla into a perennial contender for the Pearson Award, as he has gained the respect and admiration of his fellow players. If awarded the 2007-08 Lester B. Pearson Award, Iginla would join eight other players who have received the honour on more than one occasion.

Evgeni Malkin, of Magnitogorsk, Russia appeared in all 82 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins, leading the team in goals (47) and assists (59) while finishing second in the NHL in total points (106). Malkin proved this season that he is a dominant force in the league with his strong play while key Penguins teammates were out of the line-up with injuries. His 15-game point streak earlier in the year is the longest ever for a Russian born player. The 21-year-old combines strength and pure scoring ability and is already mentioned alongside the top talents in the game, in only his second full season in the NHL. The 2006-07 Calder Trophy recipient is looking to become the fourth member of the Penguins to win the Lester B. Pearson Award, following in the footsteps of Sidney Crosby, Jaromir Jagr and Mario Lemieux.

Alexander Ovechkin, of Moscow, Russia, appeared in all 82 games for the Washington Capitals, securing the NHL’s top spot for goals (65) and points (112). A finalist of the 2005-06 Lester B. Pearson Award, Ovechkin has taken the NHL by storm with his unrivalled ability to score goals and his exuberant enthusiasm for the game of hockey. In just his third season, the 22-year-old led the Capitals to the playoffs this year, after an incredible run that saw the club clinch the Southeast Division crown. Ovechkin, along with Malkin, would become just the second Russian born player to receive the honour, following Sergei Fedorov (1993-94). The Lester B. Pearson Award would be Ovechkin's third major trophy win of 2007-08, following the Art Ross Trophy for leading the NHL in points and the Maurice Richard Trophy for topping all goal scorers during the regular season.