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Mrazek beginning to find his game again |
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As the Detroit Red Wings are finding their footing, with a 3-0-1 mark through their last four games, another significant development in their quest to gain footing and get back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture is is taking place between the posts.
Goaltender Petr Mrazek is beginning to look like his old self.
“I think he’s trending in the right direction, for a number of games,” Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said of Mrazek. “To be honest with you, I thought Petr has been playing very good. He hasn’t had results he’s wanted and the pucks have gone in the net, but I think he’s actually played very well.
“Even games where he’s given up more goals than he wants to and we want him to, I think he’s still played real well and he looks like he’s on top of his game.
“He’s got a swagger, he’s on top of the crease, he’s making lots of good plays. I think he’s certainly trending in the right direction.”
When Mrazek came on in relief of starter Jared Coreau and beat the Boston Bruins Wednesday, it was the first victory he’d posted since Dec. 17. And it was a bit curious that he would get the win against of all teams, the Bruins, because it was just about a year ago on Feb. 14 when Mrazek lost to Boston and began a slide that’s seen his goals against climb over 3.00 and his save percentage dip below .900 during that span.
Mrazek’s numbers for this season are hardly impressive - 10-11-5 with a 3.13 GAA and .895 save percentage - but even Mrazek feels that his game has turned a corner of late.
“Well, I think if you look at the last five, six games, I think I got better overall and everything,” Mrazek said. I will just keep going and getting better.”
Even though the Wings dropped a 3-2 overtime decision Friday to the Buffalo Sabres, it would be folly to blame it on Mrazek, who faced 34 shots, many of them high-end scoring chances.
“I thought he was making big saves,” Detroit defenseman Danny DeKeyser said. “He was making the easy saves when he had too. He was playing the puck well, stopping rims around the net.
“He looked good and hopefully he grows off of that performance.”
All A’s For AA
Since he was a healthy scratch Jan. 4 at Anaheim, Detroit forward Andreas Athanasiou has ignited, scoring five goals and posting 5-3-8 numbers in the eight games since he returned to the lineup.
“I think first of all, when AA competes and skates and does those things, he’s an excellent hockey player,” Blashill said. “He knows that. I know that. Everybody in this room knows that. I think he’s done a good job of doing that since he’s been back in the lineup.
“I think every game you go out there you get a chance to earn trust or lose trust, and for the most part he’s done a good job of earning trust.”
On Hold
The Wings were fogged in at Buffalo overnight, so Saturday’s practice was cancelled, and that likely means the return of defenseman Niklas Kronwall will be put on hold.
The Wings had hoped to get Kronwall back in the lineup for Sunday afternoon’s home date against the New York Rangers but now it appears more likely he won’t suit up until Wednesday’s game at Joe Louis Arena against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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