The Detroit Red Wings are ready to ride their horse down the stretch toward the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Jimmy Howard will make his first start in goal since suffering a groin injury Jan. 10 as the Wings play host to the Winnipeg Jets Saturday at Joe Louis Arena and as much as they are delighted with the work Petr Mrazek delivered during Howard’s absence, the team knows that Howard has carried the load for them now for several seasons and that they can rely on him.
“It’s huge,… left-winger Justin Abdelkader said of Howard’s return. “Petr came in and I don’t think anyone would have expected him to play the way he did. I don’t know what his final record was (9-2), but he only lost a few games. He was solid and showed the organization and proved to himself he’s an NHL goalie and he’s ready.
“It’s good to have that depth, we have it all over, whether it’s defense, offense, in net. Now Jimmy’s back. Jimmy’s our starting goalie, our No. 1 goalie.
“I know he’s itching to get back. He looks healthy. He looks back to normal. He’s having fun in the locker room. We’re happy to get him back. He was playing really well before he got hurt. We’re excited. We know he’s excited. It’s important for us.…
That doesn’t mean the team is about to forget the performance that Mrazek delivered while both of Detroit’s regular goalies – Howard and Jonas Gustavsson (shoulder) – were on the sidelines.
“That was really big,… Abdelkader said. “With him down, Monster (Gustavsson) down, Pete came in and took the reins. He played the way he’s always played when he’s come in, but over a longer period of time.
“It was a great opportunity for him. The organization felt he’s pretty close to being ready here and I think he felt the same way.
“I think he proved to everyone he’s ready to go. Scenario-wise it was great for him. Howie got healed up and now we have great depth at goalie.
Mrazek Gets Creamed Saturday is Valentine’s Day and it’s also Mrazek’s 23rd birthday, and it was celebrated in traditional fashion within the Detroit dressing room.
Just as Mrazek was about to do an interview, defenseman Jonathan Ericsson popped out and smashed Mrazek in the face with a cream pie.
“I knew it was coming, I was expecting it,… Mrazek said. “They are doing it all the time around here. If you are waiting for it, it isn’t going to happen ever, but when you don’t be expecting it, that’s when it happens, so it was funny.…
Back home in the Czech Republic, Valentine’s Day isn’t as big a deal as it is in North America, but Mrazek doesn’t mind sharing his special day with the day designated for lovers.
“It’s nice to have it,… Mrazek said. “It’s different the way guys are celebrating here, more than they celebrate in Europe. It’s something special.…
He even got a combination birthday-Valentine’s Day present that still had him smiling a day after receiving it.
“This was the biggest surprise of the day for me,… he said of the pie in the face, “but I have one surprise yesterday as well.
“My girlfriend asked me to pick her mother up at the airport but when I got to the airport, it was my girlfriend who was there. She had told me she couldn’t make it, that they had a tournament at school on the weekend.…
Mrazek’s girlfriend Sara Olivova is a 5-11 junior sand volleyball player for Georgia State University. She’s from Franklin, Mich.
Short Homestand The Wings will play home again Monday against the Montreal Canadiens and then close out the month of February with a six-game road trip to Chicago, Dallas, Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose and Nashville.
“We go on a good trip, six games in a row and we play real good teams,… forward Joakim Andersson said. “It’s going to be a good test for us and a lot of fun games.…
Tyler Made The Wings were among many suitors interested in 6-7 defenseman Tyler Myers, who was dealt to the Jets earlier this week in a blockbuster trade with Buffalo.
As much as his name had been attached to many teams over the course of the season in trade rumors, Myers did his best not to think about it or imagine scenarios of how he might fit in with certain teams.
“I thought I did a pretty good job of blocking it out,… Myers said. “My main focus before the move happened was ‘How can I be a better player for the Buffalo Sabres?’ and now that the move has made its way to Winnipeg, my main focus is adjusting as fast as I can and being the best player I can for this team.…
Myers doesn’t believe the persistent trade talk impacted his play in any way.
“I don’t think it bothered me too much throughout the year,… Myers said. “All the players understand it’s part of the game and sometimes, that talk’s going to revolve around you.
“The fact that it happened, it’s nice to get settled in with this team and even just after one game I’m very excited to be part of it.…
Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer