Mike Babcock Talks About Not Starting Chris Osgood

Chris Osgood has been thinking about getting win number 400 for a long, long time now. While most athletes might down play certain milestones, Ozzie will be the first to tell you that getting his 400th win is important, so much that at times it has consumed him. With another victory, Osgood will be just the 10th goal tender in NHL history to join the 400 club, no doubtingly making him a hall of famer when his career comes to an end. So the big question is when will that chance come?

Detroit Head Coach Mike Babcock was asked at Tuesday's Wings practice and didn't have an answer, instead he just made it clear that Jimmy Howard will be the starter come the Blues game on Wednesday night. Which raises the question why? Howard allowed 5 goals on Monday night against the Kings which could, in itself call for a change of goalie even if it's just for one game. Add that to the fact that Osgood is on the cusp of 400 and has a chance to reach that goal at the Joe, in front of fans that have cheered for him for years against a team that he used to play for and it becomes a no brainer that he should start tomorrow night? Babcock when asked why "I never thought much about that, I have thought about winning and I thought that Howie [Howard] is starting tomorrow. But you guys have brought it to my attention that I should, so now I'm going to go back and sit in my office and talk to the coaches and I'm going to say should we have a warm gooey spot? [for Osgood and let him start]"

Osgood has had many critics over the course of his career, including a majority of them in Detroit. The main beef with the goalie has been that he has been aided by playing with so many great players, especially with the Red Wings that he can't be that good. Longtime teammate Kris Draper when asked why people are so quick to try and discredit Ozzie said "I think it's those looks, those boyish looks that we all want. You know he doesn't have that nastiness, the way he is composed, he doesn't get fired up. I think that's why people don't really talk about Ozzie and his 400 wins as something that is a great accomplishment."

Of course it is a great accomplishment and what better place to achieve it then in Downtown Detroit in front of a packed house as Osgood skates off with 400 wins and the legendary "Ozzie, Ozzie" chant accompanying his exit. When Babcock goes back and thinks about it, hopefully he will envision just that and will let the future hall of famer play on Wednesday night.