Jimmy Howard has won back his job as Detroit’s No. 1 goalie and will start his third straight game Thursday at Joe Louis Arena as the Red Wings face the Vancouver Canucks.
Now maybe the Wings can find him some support.
Howard leads the NHL in goals-against average (1.26) and save percentage (.958) but he’s well down the list when it comes to run support. The Wings have scored just eight goals in his five starts, an average of 1.60 goals per game.
Howard knows that’s an element of the game that he can’t control, so he instead chooses to focus on keeping himself mentally prepared when his number is called.
“It’s good,… Howard said of playing a stretch of games in succession. “Anytime you’re able to do that it helps with your confidence.
“I think no matter who you are or what type of athlete you are, whenever you get a chance to go out there several times and show what you can do, it definitely builds your confidence.…
Detroit coach Jeff Blashill constantly emphasizes with his players that their task is to get better every day, and admires the time Howard put in during the summer in order to improve at his craft.
“Jimmy went to work this summer to improve his game, spent some time with a bunch of goalies in Wisconsin, with a bunch of elite goalies,… Blashill said. “He came into the season and said every day he’s going to go to work and get better and that’s what he’s done.
“I think no matter your age you can keep getting better and sometimes you have to change how you play as you move through your career, for multiple reasons. He’s made little adjustments that have helped him. His crease management has been real good. He’s stayed more patient on his edges, so he can react from his edges real well.
“Every player in here, as they move through seasons and careers, you might have to make adjustments to continue to be elite and he’s taken certain steps that way.…
That’s why for now, the Wings will continue to ride Howard’s hot hand.
“Jimmy’s playing really good hockey and he’s playing at such a level there that we’d be … it just makes more sense to make sure we’re back with him,… Blashill said.
Change On the Fly Blashill indicated there would be no lineup changes tonight but that’s not entirely correct.
Ken Kal, the radio voice of the Red Wings, is a scratch due to illness and Bob Kaser has been recalled from AHL Grand Rapids to fill in and call the game.
A 38-year veteran of radio play by play, this will be Kaser’s first call of an NHL game.
“It’s an honor beyond words,… said Kaser, a Michigander. “I think of Bruce Martyn and Ken Kal, two legends of Detroit broadcasting who I’ve listened to over and over again for many years. To suddenly be in the chair of those two guys, it’s incredibly emotional. I can’t put into words what that means to me, a Red Wings fan since I was a little kid.
“I’m looking forward to tonight, but I hope Ken feels better real soon.…
Bertuzzi Impresses Forward Tyler Bertuzzi will get into his second NHL game and his first home game as a Red Wing.
“It was a tough start in the sense that he didn’t get enough minutes,… Blashill said of Bertuzzi’s NHL debut Tuesday in Philadelphia. “He sat on the bench for seven minutes. That certainly wasn’t planned, but with specialty teams and matchups, that’s the way it worked it out.
“I thought he worked his way into the game. I think I read somewhere he said he was a little bit nervous early but by the end of the game I thought he as Tyler Bertuzzi. That means he’s really, really smart, he’s got great poise, he doesn’t panic with the puck, he gets stick-on-puck, creates turnovers and he’s got great hockey sense, so I thought by the end of the game he did things that are going to make him successful.
“It’s a process so hopefully every game he gets a little more comfortable.…
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