Stanley Cup | Detroit finally believes in Osgood

DETROIT — Plan B has worked out well for the Detroit Red Wings.

The NHL's top-seeded team planned on putting Dominik Hasek in goal during the playoffs and keeping him there.

"Dom is not going to struggle," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said the day before the postseason started, attempting to shoot down a question about the possibility of using Chris Osgood.

But after Hasek struggled against the Nashville Predators, Babcock benched the six-time Vezina Trophy winner in favor of former Seattle Thunderbird Osgood during Game 4 of the first round.

So far, so good.

Osgood is 13-3 as a starter in this year's playoffs, with three shutouts and a 1.45 goals-against average. He is a major reason the Red Wings will get their first of three chances to win their fourth title in 11 seasons tonight at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 of the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final.

Osgood insisted he is not thinking about the ramifications.

"Sounds boring, but that's the way I've approached it all playoffs," Osgood said after one of his best performances lifted Detroit to a 2-1 victory Saturday night in Pittsburgh and a 3-1 series lead.

Osgood, 35, has had to make an average of 21 saves per start behind a strong defense.

"We're not looking for him to steal games," Detroit general manager Ken Holland said Sunday before praising Osgood for big saves in Game 4.

The Red Wings and Detroit's fans haven't always believed in Osgood. After he helped the franchise reach the conference finals in 1996, he was Mike Vernon's backup when it won the 1997 Stanley Cup.

Osgood was the No. 1 goalie for the 1998 Stanley Cup championship team. But after being in net during early exits the next three seasons, he became expendable when Hasek was acquired in 2001. The New York Islanders claimed Osgood on waivers and traded him to the St. Louis Blues in 2003.

Osgood chose to return to Detroit as a free agent three years ago, after the lockout.

In a move that is looking brilliant, the Red Wings signed Osgood to a three-year contract extension in January for a total of $4.25 million. He has a franchise-record 51 playoff victories with Detroit.