Red Wings good in goal

TRAVERSE CITY -- The Detroit Red Wings broke camp in Traverse City today with a couple roster spots still up in the air.

With Stanley Cup veterans Dominik Hasek and Chris Osgood in the fold, that issue was settled long before camp started.

Hasek and Osgood were stalwarts a year ago when Detroit tied Buffalo for the President's Trophy and reached the Western Conference finals. Hasek finished second in the National Hockey League with a 2.05 goals-against average in 56 games. Osgood, who missed time with a fractured left wrist, had a 2.38 goals-against average in 21 games.

The 42-year-old Hasek took a few weeks to a contemplate his future after the Red Wings lost to Anaheim in the conference finals. He decided to return for two reasons -- he was able to stay healthy last season after his previous campaign was curtailed by a groin injury, and he was disappointed with how the season ended when he surrendered 15 goals in the six-game series with Anaheim.

"I thought last year was going to be my last year," Hasek said. "After we lost (to Anaheim) I needed a few weeks to think about everything. It was a disappointment, especially after the way I played the whole year.

"But I think I can still compete at the highest level, and that I can still contribute to this team. I'm excited to be back on the ice. I'm very motivated. We did a good job (last year), but there was something missing (Stanley Cup). I wanted to come back and do better."

Hasek, a six-time Vezina Trophy winner as the league's best goalie, won a Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2002. He would like nothing better than to win another.

"If you play for the Red Wings, you have to compete every night, every day," he said. "Expectations are high. Our goal is to win it. In Detroit, anything else is a disappointment. Last year wasn't a bad season, but it wasn't a successful season. I want more this year."

Hasek actually played more games than many expected a year ago after Osgood, who was the starting netminder when the Wings claimed the Cup in 1998, was hurt in November.

"I thought Dom really enjoyed playing hockey last season," said Jim Bedard, the Wings' goalies coach. "He had a good full season. I give credit to our training staff for keeping him healthy. Dom came in early every single day to stretch, to get massages, in order to prevent injuries. It worked."

"We like playing together," Osgood said. "We're looking to have the same kind of year we had last year.

"Dom knows his job, I know mine. We're both at the age now where we just want to win. We're not into who's playing what game or who's playing how many games. We work hard in practice and get along great on and off the ice. We just want to win, that's all it comes down to."

"It's a very comfortable fit for us," he said. "Dom and Chris have great resumes. They've both won Stanley Cups. They both compete, work hard and enjoy being on the same club. There's no animosity at all. If anything, it's a very friendly, cooperative relationship they have. There's a lot of respect between the two. They push each other, they cheer for each other, and they love what they do."

Photos

Detroit Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood makes a save.

Detroit Red Wings center Kris Draper tries to get a shot on goalie Dominik Hasek with defenseman Cleve Kinley covering him during training camp at Center ICE.