Petr Mrazek’s goal-against average of 2.55 may not appear Vezina-worthy. His save percentage of .913 is solid, but not spectacular.
It’s the numbers listed in his won-lost record – 10-3-1 – that are the most impressive and also the digits that make the biggest impression with his bosses.
“Pete has a way about him,… Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “He just wins games. Sometimes some of the goals he gives up you’d like to say ‘Why did that go in?’ but he wins the game.
“In the end, that’s what matters, winning games.…
It’s all that matters to Mrazek as well.
“You have to find a way to win,… Mrazek said. “When you’re winning and you have two points you’re happy with yourself and the team.
“Yeah, some goals I think they shouldn’t go in but it doesn’t matter in the end. No one’s going to ask me tomorrow how bad the goal was, they’re going to ask me if I won the game.
“That’s the biggest challenge, to have the victory in the end.…
It’s a challenge in which Mrazek has always thrived and a side to his personality that has allowed him to thrive as a No. 1 NHL goalie in place of the injured Jimmy Howard at the tender age of 22.
“He got a little experience last year playing some games up here,… Detroit left-winger Justin Abdelkader said. “He’s just a confident goalie. He’s confident in his abilities and what he can do. I think he’s shown that up here.
Off the ice, Mrazek is a fun-loving guy. On the ice, he’s calm in the face of fury.
“Nothing seems to faze him,… Abdelkader said. “That’s just how he is, his character. I think that’s good as a goalie where you’re kind of unflappable. You don’t get rattled. He’s just solid back there. He makes saves when has to.
“He plays the puck really well. It’s a real good thing for us, having a goalie like that being down as our third string, having a goalie that can come in and play the way he’s played.…
It’s Mrazek’s puckhandling skills that set him apart from Howard, a poor puckhandler who actually suffered the groin injury that’s put him on the sidelines during one of his puck-playing gaffes.
“It’s huge,… Babcock assessed of Mrazek’s puckhandling ability. “They’re not getting forechecks on you and wearing on your D because he can play the puck. It’s a real skill set. It’s part of his game. “We give up less chances with Mrazek in net because of the way he plays the puck.…
His work is impressing hockey people beyond the Detroit dressing room.
“I know quite a bit about Mrazek from when he was in the minors,… said Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper, who will face the Wings Thursday. “He's an NHL goaltender.…
An NHL goaltender who keeps on racking up the Ws.
“You have to find a way how to win,… Mrazek said. “That’s the most important thing.
“It doesn’t matter how we win.…
Gustavsson Update Speaking of Detroit goalies, Jonas Gustavsson, out since suffering a separated left shoulder Nov. 5 against the New York Rangers, continues to make slow but steady progress in his recovery.
“I feel better and better,… Gustavsson said after Wednesday’s practice. “Today I had more work than I did in the past, so it felt pretty good. I’m still taking it day by day, but yeah, I feel like I’m getting closer.
“I feel like I’m pretty strong in the shoulder, but I’ve just got to get the motion back. Then get more pucks and get back to game shape overall, too.…
Gustavsson figures to reacquire the latter will likely require him to take a rehab stint and play a few games with Detroit’s Grand Rapids AHL farm club.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to do that,… Gustavsson said. “It’s not only to get the shoulder to work, it’s to get my game overall back and all of that.
“So I’m sure together we’ll find a way to do that.…
Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer