Wings' Osgood in spotlight because he reinvented himself

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DETROIT - Chris Osgood is the Red Wings' unsung hero going into the NHL's Western Conference final.

The Associated Press

Detroit Red Wings' goalie Chris Osgood smiles during hockey practice at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit yesterday.

Johan Franzen's scoring exploits have captured much of the attention during Detroit's quest for the Stanley Cup, but Osgood's goaltending contributions should not be ignored. The 35-year-old Albertan began the playoffs on the end of the bench but he's won all six games he's started since Dominik Hasek got the hook in the first round.

Osgood and the Wings go for seven in a row when the Dallas Stars step onto Joe Louis Arena ice tonight (TSN, 8:30 p.m.).

There has been little about Osgood during the winning streak that could be classed as spectacular. He doesn't awe anybody. He just wins.

"The team is playing really well and I don't feel that I have to go out there and steal any games," Osgood said after practice Wednesday. "I just have to play solid, work hard and make the saves when I have to, and I feel I'm capable of doing that."

He relies on quickness to offset his lack of size. He's only five foot 10 and about 175 pounds, but he can move from one side of his crease to the other faster than most goalies. He's got a good glove, too. Having confidence in himself, and a keen sense of homour, through thick and thin has helped enormously.

Although his 27-9-4 regular-season showing, plus an all-star game start, might have warranted giving him the nod to begin the playoffs, Hasek was selected. Osgood didn't mope -- never has.

"It's doing the right things in practice with (goaltending coach) Jim Bedard and just being ready," he said of waiting for this chance. "I wasn't doubting myself because I was doing things in practice and off the ice to make sure I was ready."

Osgood's 14-year career has had more ups and downs than a roller-coaster. Three teams, including Detroit during his first go-round with the Red Wings, gave up on him, but he never gave up on himself.

Despite being the first-stringer in Detroit's 1998 championship run, Osgood could never totally please then-coach Scotty Bowman. The Red Wings acquired Hasek in 2001, let Osgood go on waivers to the New York Islanders, and won the championship with the wily Czech in 2002.

After the Isles got Rick DiPietro, Osgood was shipped off to St. Louis, where he played for two years. The Blues didn't re-sign him, and he returned to Detroit on a one-year deal in August 2005. He re-signed in 2006 for two more years.