|
Howard, Mrazek Wings' 1 and 1A goaltenders |
|
|
|
|
|
Who’s in goal?
For the Detroit Red Wings, it really doesn’t seem to matter.
Whether it’s Jimmy Howard or Petr Mrazek between the pipes, both are proving to be the best type of netminder – the kind who stop the puck.
“They’re both unbelievable,” Detroit center Riley Sheahan said. “It obviously helps when we have two goalies that can play. I think it starts with them.”
Thus far this season, Howard is the one with the better numbers. His 2.01 goals-against average is ninth in the NHL and his save percentage of .934 is tied for ninth overall.
Mrazek owns a 2.67 GAA and .921 save percentage and like Howard, has posted three wins. But it isn’t just about numbers when you talk about solid goaltending. It’s about making the save when it matters most.
“In the D-zone we’re comfortable,” Sheahan said. “We know if we give up a shot they’re going to be there to make a save and then we can break out and go to the O-zone.”
Case in point – tied 1-1 in the third period with Tampa Bay on Tuesday, Howard snaked out his left pad to make a spectacular toe stop on Lightning forward Ondrej Palat. The Wings took the puck the other way and Dylan Larkin potted the winner in a 2-1 victory.
“He was amazing,” Sheahan said of Howard. “He makes big saves when we need them. He did a great job playing the puck for us and breaking us out.
“Things like that kind of make a big deal and help us win.”
Mrazek’s puck-moving skills set up Gustav Nyquist for the OT winner in a victory at Vancouver and earlier in the season, his puckstopping prowess in a 44-save performance garnered a 4-3 win at Carolina.
“That's a good thing,” Detroit forward Justin Abdelkader said. “They're both playing really well, they're both winning us games, giving us a chance to win games."
“They've been a big part of our team and giving us an opportunity to win each night. You want your goalie to make saves. Petr maybe plays the puck a little more for sure, but they're both playing great for us.”
Entering the season, coach Jeff Blashill planned to utilize his netminders as 1 and 1A, playing both of them frequently and not designating a No. 1 netminder until he felt it was necessary to do so.
“Basically there’s no separation,” Blashill said. “I think both guys have been really, really good. If you look at the numbers, they've both been really good. Numbers don't tell everything but they're both real close and they've both done a real good job.
“I think they've both given us chances to win every night.”
Blashill is of the opinion that in today’s NHL, with so many back-to-back games and stretches with three in four nights, counting on just one netminder is a strategy that will result in folly and lead to failure in the long run.
“Riding a hot goalie a lot of times to me is a short-term thing,” Blashill said. “I think it's real important to have a long-term outlook on it if you can.
“I think both guys have played very, very well. We want to keep both in it. I think in today's NHL, most teams have had to use two goalies throughout the year. There's very few teams that are able to ride a guy for year after year like a Marty Brodeur did at one time, whether it be through the regular season or even in the playoffs.
“We want both guys playing at a high level and they both, I think, have earned the opportunity to continue to play because of their performances. So ultimately if there's separation, that'll answer itself. If there's not, we'll continue to give both of them opportunities to play if we think they give us our best chance to win.
“Right now they've both played so equally and so well that I feel like they both give us a great chance to win.”
Saarijarvi Honored
Red Wings prospect Vili Saarijärvi of the Flint Firebirds is the Ontario Hockey League’s defenseman of the month for October.
The 18 year old from Finland scored two goals along with nine assists for 11 points in 11 contests to go with a plus/minus rating of plus-nine. Saarijärvi registered points in seven of his 11 October appearances. He had three multi-point performances, including three assists Oct. 11 against the Peterborough Petes. Saarijärvi is currently tied for the lead in scoring among OHL defencemen with two goals, 14 assists and 16 points in 14 games.
Selected 73rd overall by the Red Wings in the 2015 NHL entry draft, the club has already signed Saarijärvi to a three-year entry-level contract.
Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»