Detroit coach Mike Babcock always talks about the fire in Petr Mrazek’s eyes, the determination that fuels the 22-year-old netminder to succeed.
Called up in November when Jonas Gustavsson was sidelined by a shoulder separation, Mrazek was handed the keys to the Detroit net for the foreseeable future Sunday when Jimmy Howard was placed on the injured reserve list with a groin injury.
Howard’s groin was injured early in Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals when he misplayed a puck and in vain desperately tried to get back to his net before Washington’s Troy Brouwer scored.
An MRI was done on Howard’s groin Sunday and he will undergo an ultrasound Monday to determine the full extent of his injury.
Former first-round draft pick Tom McCollum was recalled from Grand Rapids to back up Mrazek, but make no mistake, Mrazek is the guy the Wings intend to ride, and they maintain every confidence that he can handle the load.
“His mindset is simple,… Babcock explained. “He's not up here trying to get Gus' job, he's up here getting Howie's job. He just thinks nothing bothers him. He thinks he's great.
“I like that.…
Red Wings director of player development Jiri Fischer first saw that side of Mrazek when he was an assistant coach with the Czech Republic during the 2012 world junior championship in Calgary and Edmonton as Czech netminder Mrazek was named the tournament's top goalie.
“He was the best player we had,… Fischer said. “He was the guy who took all the spotlight and at the same time, wasn't affected by all the media, all the hype and 20,000 people at the games. He loved it.
“He thrived in that environment. He couldn't get enough of it.
“That took so much pressure off of our team. Nobody talked about our defense. Nobody talked about any other player during the tournament. He really stayed focused throughout the tournament.
“That's who he is.…
Detroit’s fifth-round selection (141st overall) in the 2010 NHL entry draft, Mrazek owns an 8-8-0-1 mark with a 2.03 goals-against average, .921 save percentage and two shutouts in 20 career NHL appearances.
“I'm trying every game to be the best and stop the most pucks I can and be focused,… Mrazek said. “That's all the goalie can do.…
The Wings believe that’s exactly what he’s accomplished for them.
“He's been really good for us,… left-winger Tomas Tatar said. “I don't think I saw him play any bad games here for us. He always was good. He played good again (Saturday). He gave us a chance to come back.…
As a sign of how he’s won wherever he’s been, Mrazek is one of two goalies in hockey history to win their debuts in the ECHL, AHL and NHL. The other was Alex Auld.
Pulling For Pulkkinen One goal-scoring leader was impressed with the other.
Tatar, whose 16 goals lead the Red Wings, liked what he saw in Saturday’s loss to the Capitals from right-winger Teemu Pulkkinen, who was recalled from Grand Rapids, where he leads the AHL with 20 goals.
“He played a pretty good game,… Tatar said of Pulkkinen. “At the start you have to play kind of simple, just show the coach you don't do any mistakes. I feel the confidence will come when he plays more and more.
“He got some good looks, he's got a pretty good shot and unfortunately it didn't go in but we know we can count on his shot. He's got a rocket and hopefully he will find the net soon.…
While not nearly as effusive in his praise, Babcock also acknowledged that he had his eyes on Pulkkinen to determine whether Pulkkinen has his eyes on the prize.
“I thought he played good,… Babcock said. “He can shoot the puck, but he’s a kid. We’ll watch him and see what he can do. Is he an NHL player that can take someone’s job? That’s up to him. I’m just going to watch.…
Babcock also scoffed at any thoughts that Pulkkinen might need time to find his comfort zone at the NHL level.
“I don’t worry too much about comfort,… Babcock said. “Either you make yourself comfortable and you take a job, or he plays somewhere else.…
Just Coincidence? In the lead-up and follow to the Washington game, Babcock continuously referred to the ability of Capitals defenseman Mike Green, whose name has been linked to Detroit in trade talk.
“When you have Green playing as your fifth D man, you’re a pretty good team on the back to say the least,… Babcock pointed out on more than one occasion. “I think Green’s a star.…
An unrestricted free agent at season’s end, if Washington opts to move him, Green might come at a cheaper price than younger defenders who could be available such as Buffalo’s Tyler Myers or Edmonton’s Jeff Petry. And he’d fill Detroit’s need for a right-hand shot on the blue-line.
Green would seem to fit well with Detroit’s defensive corps. He could play in the third pairing while working on the power play.
But again, that’s all conjecture and speculation at this juncture.
Red Light District Defenseman Jonathan Ericsson scored Detroit’s lone goal in the loss at Washington.
“It just bounced out from a shot before,… Ericsson said. “It came out high in the slot and I just tried to get it on net and I think their goalie (Braden Holtby) was a little bit out of position and I think it went off the goalie and in.…
Ericsson had gone 85 games between goals, last scoring Oct. 13, 2013 against the Phoenix Coyotes.
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