An actor might not like it when an understudy steps in and proves to be a showstopper.
A goalie – at least in the case of Detroit Red Wings netminder Jimmy Howard – has no problem with this scenario whatsoever.
Out since suffering a slight groin tear Jan. 10 in a game at Washington, Howard can’t say enough good things about the job Petr Mrazek has done while filling the void.
Mrazek, 22, will start his 10th straight game Saturday as the Wings face the Arizona Coyotes in Phoenix. He’s 7-1 with a 2.72 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage over that span.
“He’s done a great job, you know, he really has,… Howard said. “He’s stepped up in a big way for us and we’re going to need him again here (today).…
Howard is especially impressed by Mrazek’s ability to be able to erase his struggles from his memory and not allow them to have any long-term effect on his puckstopping skills, usually a challenge for young netminders.
“It’s not his first time ever being pulled; it won’t be his last,… Howard said of mid-game exits by Mrazek during games against Buffalo and Tampa Bay. “He knows that. He’s a very prideful guy and he’s got a lot of confidence. It doesn’t bother him too much.…
It has to be that way for a goaltender to survive the rigors and demands placed on them in the NHL.
“It’s just part of the gig,… Howard said. “One day you’re the hero, the next day you’re the goat. So you don’t really read into anything, you don’t listen to anything. You just live in your own bubble.
“I think that’s how I survive.…
It’s also the quality that Detroit coach Mike Babcock appreciates most about Mrazek.
“He’s just found ways to win games,… Babcock said. “That’s what you want. He’s good with the puck. He competes hard. He has the ability to bounce back but he’s been good.
“We’re fortunate with Howie, Gus (Jonas Gustavsson) and him. We’ve got good depth in goaltending.…
As with all young goalies, Babcock believes Mrazek still needs to improve his technical work, but he’s already mastered the most daunting challenge of being a goaltender, his mental toughness.
“I just know that he’s a goalie who’s a work in progress,… Babcock said. “Like all young guys he’s got to get better. But his mental side of his game is really strong, so he’s got to continue to develop his skill set.…
As to continuing developments, Howard remains convinced he’ll be ready to suit up for Wednesday’s game at Pittsburgh.
“Yeah, yeah, that’s what I said last week and we’re still right there on track,… Howard said.
Father-Son Time In a classy move, the Wings recalled defenseman Xavier Ouellet from AHL Grand Rapids to make this road trip, Detroit’s annual father’s trip, because his dad Robert had already made plans to be on the journey.
Unless there’s an injury on the back end, it’s unlikely that Ouellet will see any game action during this three-game road swing, but he is getting to spend some quality time with his dad, a former pro hockey player in Europe.
“We’re hanging out and talking and I think he’s enjoying this trip right now,… said Ouellet, who estimated his Montreal-based dad has seen him pay five games over the past two years.
“He’s far,… Ouellet said. “I’ve never played in Montreal yet, so if he wants to see me play he has to travel and make it happen. It’s a little hard for him to watch games live.…
It’s rare that he gets to spend this kind of quality time with his father during the hockey season.
“It’s a lot of fun for sure,… Ouellet said. “We don’t get to hang out that much. When I get back in the summer my whole family is there. I don’t have one-on-one time with him, so him being here with me is a lot of one-on-one time, a lot of talks.
“We’ve been having a lot of fun. The plane’s impressive for him, so it’s really cool.…
That he was told his demotion to the AHL had nothing to do with his level of play is something that also makes Ouellet feel better.
“For sure, for sure it felt good,… he said. “Personally I think, in the 21 games I played I did a pretty good job, I did a lot of good stuff, and obviously there were a couple of games where I needed to adjust a little bit.
“But they said it wasn’t about my play, I played good, and they have a job to do and a business to run, so they make their decisions and I have to keep going.…
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