It’s been a difficult and trying year for Jimmy Howard to say the least but the Detroit Red Wings netminder has found his game and is riding a hot streak at exactly the time of the season when the team needed him to stand up and deliver.
When Petr Mrazek was felled by illness late last week, Howard stepped into the breech and posted back-to-back wins at Columbus over the Blue Jackets and at Florida over the Panthers to pull the Wings back into a playoff position as the final wildcard in the Eastern Conference.
Howard will be back in the net again Tuesday as the Wings complete a four-game road trip at Tampa Bay against the Lightning, and deservedly so, even though Mrazek has regained his health and will serve as the back up goalie.
“We’re in a day-to-day business where our focus is trying to win a hockey game tonight,… Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “Obviously Petr has been out ill so this will really be his second time practicing and the first time he’s been back-to-back days on the ice.
“We want to win a hockey game and we think Jimmy gives us a great chance to win that game tonight.…
In his past seven games, Howard is 3-2-1 with a 2.15 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage.
“Jimmy’s been huge for us here last two games, really, really come in and played with a lot of poise and making the big saves and playing the puck with confidence,… Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “It’s fun for us.
“It’s nice for us to see that we have two good goalies that are ready to play when they get the call.…
For his part, Howard is just pleased that after struggling for much of the season, he’s turning in some of his best hockey at the most important time of the year as the Wings scrap for a playoff spot.
“It’s good because we desperately need the points right now,… Howard said. “The guys have played two really good games in front of me and hopefully tonight it’s no different.
“My job is to be ready when called upon. It’s unfortunate that Petr got sick but at the same time I need to ready here again tonight.…
While he was fighting the puck and surrendering his No. 1 goaltending position to Mrazek, it was easy to forget that a year ago, Howard was playing some sensational net for the Wings and was picked to play in the NHL All-Star Game.
“I think it’s a little bit of everything,… Howard said of bouncing back to being his old self between the pipes once again.…
Playing with the season on the line is nothing new to Howard or his teammates.
“We’ve been in this situation before and battled and came out on top,… Howard said. “Being in this position of pushing for the playoffs and accomplishing it, I think that helps with the confidence of being able to step in there and play right away.…
At the start of the season, the Wings felt they had a 1A and a 1B package in goal and right now, Mrazek and Howard are living up to that billing.
“Yeah, they have,… Zetterberg said. “That was the probably the hope we had going into the season, that we had two goalies that could really, really be No. 1 and lately when Petr was out Howie came in and was playing like a No. 1 goalie.…
Knowing he can once again count on both of his goaltenders certainly leaves Blashill with a good problem to have as his team drives down the stretch of the regular season looking to extend their streak of consecutive playoff appearances to 25 seasons.
“I think it’s great,… Blashill said. “We’ve talked all year long about that fact, that we think we’ve got two guys that have proven they can do a real good job in this league.
“Jimmy’s got lots of confidence in himself and we’ve got lots of confidence in him and he stepped in and did a good job both last game and the other night in Columbus.
“We’d like to get more time for Petr as well, practicing, that’s why it’s real critical you have two guys who can play. To be honest with you, Jared Coreau comes up here and he looks really good. Tommy McCollum’s got great numbers in the American League (with Grand Rapids). So the depth of the goaltending position looks like a strength for us right now in the organization.…
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