Chris Osgood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chris Osgood |
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Osgood in 2005
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| Born | November 26, 1972 Peace River, Alberta, Canada |
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| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
| Weight | 178 lb (81 kg; 12 st 10 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for | Detroit Red Wings New York Islanders St. Louis Blues |
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| NHL Draft | 54th overall, 1991 Detroit Red Wings |
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| Playing career | 1992–2011 | ||
Chris Osgood (born November 26, 1972) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played for 17 years in the NHL. Most of his career was with the Detroit Red Wings.
Osgood won three Stanley Cup championships with the Red Wings. He won his first as a backup goalie. He was the main starting goalie for his last two wins. He is one of the top goalies in NHL history. He ranks 13th in regular season wins with 401. Fans in Detroit called him "Ozzy" or "The Wizard of Oz."
Chris Osgood was the last NHL goalie to wear an older style helmet and cage combo. Most goalies now use a full one-piece mask. He is also one of only 16 goalies in NHL history to score a goal. He shot the puck directly into the net on March 6, 1996. This was against the Hartford Whalers.
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Chris Osgood's Hockey Journey
Chris Osgood was picked by the Red Wings in the 1991 NHL Draft. He was the 54th player chosen overall. He started playing in the NHL during the 1993–94 season.
Starting Out in Detroit
Osgood became the fourth goalie for Detroit that season. The team traded their main goalie, Tim Cheveldae. This made Osgood the starting goalie for the playoffs. The Red Wings played the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks won the series in seven games. In the last game, Osgood made a mistake. He tried to clear the puck, but it went to a Sharks player. That player scored the winning goal. Osgood was very upset after the game.
After that season, the Red Wings wanted an experienced goalie. They traded for Mike Vernon. Vernon had already won a Stanley Cup.
Winning with the Red Wings
In the 1994–95 season, Osgood was Vernon's backup. The Red Wings made it to the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals. They lost to the New Jersey Devils.
The next season (1995–96), Osgood played much more. He led the NHL with a 2.17 GAA. This means he let in very few goals per game. He also won 39 games. He was chosen for the NHL All-Star Game. Osgood and Vernon won the William M. Jennings Trophy. This award goes to the goalies who let in the fewest goals.
That season, Osgood scored a goal against the Hartford Whalers. He was only the second goalie in NHL history to score a goal by shooting the puck.
In the 1996–97 season, Osgood and Vernon shared goalie duties. But Vernon played most of the playoff games. The Red Wings won their first Stanley Cup in 42 years! Osgood's name was put on the Stanley Cup.
After this win, Vernon was traded. Osgood became Detroit's main goalie. The Red Wings won the Stanley Cup again in 1998. They beat the Washington Capitals. This was their second straight championship!
On April 1, 1998, Osgood had a fight with Colorado Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy. Goalie fights are rare and exciting!
Osgood stayed Detroit's main goalie until 2001. Then, the Red Wings got another great goalie, Dominik Hašek.
Time with Other Teams
In 2001, the Red Wings put Osgood on waivers. The New York Islanders picked him up. He played for the Islanders for two seasons. He helped them reach the playoffs in 2002.
In 2003, Osgood was traded to the St. Louis Blues. He was their main goalie for a season and a half. The Blues did not get far in the playoffs during his time there.
Back to Detroit
In 2005, Chris Osgood returned to the Detroit Red Wings. He signed a new contract. He worked with other goalies like Manny Legace and Jimmy Howard.
Osgood and Dominik Hašek shared goalie duties in the 2007–08 season. Osgood played very well. He had a 2.09 GAA, which was the best in the NHL. He also had an impressive 27 wins. His great play earned him a new contract and a spot in the 2008 NHL All-Star Game.
Winning the 2008 Stanley Cup
During the 2008 playoffs, Hašek struggled. Coach Mike Babcock decided to make Osgood the starting goalie. Osgood led the Red Wings to nine straight playoff wins! They beat the Nashville Predators and swept the Colorado Avalanche. They also took a big lead against the Dallas Stars.
The Red Wings reached the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Osgood started the finals with two shutouts in a row. This means he didn't let in any goals in the first two games! He was only the fourth goalie in NHL history to do this.
In Game Six, Osgood made a final save as time ran out. This sealed the Stanley Cup win for the Red Wings! It was Osgood's second championship as a starting goalie. He had a fantastic playoff record of 14 wins and 4 losses. Many thought he might win the Conn Smythe Trophy for best playoff player.
After the Big Win
The season after the Stanley Cup (2008–09) was tough for Osgood. He struggled with injuries and pressure. He said it was the "worst I've played." Even so, he had 26 wins, putting him among the top goalies all-time.
Despite his regular season struggles, Osgood was the main goalie for the 2009 playoffs. He played almost every minute. His performance improved a lot. The Red Wings made it to the Stanley Cup Finals again! They played the Pittsburgh Penguins in a rematch. This time, the Penguins won in seven games.
In the 2009–10 season, Osgood lost his starting job to rookie goalie Jimmy Howard. Osgood played fewer games that year.
On December 27, 2010, Osgood reached a huge milestone. He earned his 400th career victory! He became only the 10th goalie in NHL history to do this. The Red Wings won the game in overtime.
On July 19, 2011, Chris Osgood announced he was retiring from playing hockey. He stayed with the Red Wings team. He now helps young goalies develop their skills.
Life After Playing Hockey
After retiring, Chris Osgood became a hockey analyst. He works for Fox Sports Detroit. He talks about Red Wings games on TV. He also helps own the Saginaw Spirit, a junior hockey team. He advises them on goalies and other team matters.
Awards and Achievements
- Won the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 1997, 1998, and 2008.
- Was the starting goalie for the Stanley Cup wins in 1998 and 2008.
- Won the William M. Jennings Trophy twice (1996 and 2008). This award is for goalies on the team that allows the fewest goals.
- Ranks 13th all-time in NHL wins for a goaltender.
- Ranks 9th in all-time playoff wins.
- Tied for 5th in all-time playoff shutouts.
- Played in the NHL All-Star Game in 1996 and 2008.
- Led the NHL in Goals Against Average (GAA) in 2008 (both regular season and playoffs).
- Led the NHL in wins in 1996.
- Scored a goal against the Hartford Whalers on March 6, 1996.
- Became only the 10th goalie in NHL history to reach 400 wins.
See also
- List of goaltenders who have scored a goal in an NHL game
- List of NHL goaltenders with 300 wins
