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Detroit Red Wings News: Petr Mrazek Starts Game One

By Adam Savard |

The Detroit Red Wings sure know how to make an entrance into the Stanley Cup playoffs.  Three days before the first game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, head coach Mike Babcock announced Petr Mrazek would start over veteran Jimmy Howard.

When I first heard this I thought this felt like the act of a desperate coach, one perhaps on his way elsewhere at season’s end.  But digging a little deeper, Babcock is giving the Detroit Red Wings the best chance to upset the Lightning by starting Mrazek.

Sure, Howard was part of the 2008 Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup team, but he didn’t lead that team to the title.  Dominik Hasek did the heavy lifting for that banner.  Playing behind him was valuable experience, but it hasn’t turned into on-ice success in the playoffs for Howard.

Sure, the .919 save percentage in 45 playoff starts is respectable.  Howard has been better lately with .924 and .931 marks in the last two Stanley Cup playoffs.  But its recent history that has Babcock turning to Mrazek.

Here are the advanced stats on both Detroit Red Wings goaltenders this season from war-on-ice.com:

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Mrazek has clearly been the better option for the Detroit Red Wings.  He is making more of the medium and hard saves than Howard.  Key saves at key times bring confidence and momentum, intangibles that help decide how a series will finish.

The Detroit Red Wings will need any edge they can find entering a series with the highest scoring team in the league.  Mrazek will give that short-term.  Long term there are bigger questions surrounding the Detroit Red Wings crease.

Mrazek has a one-year contract extension kicking in next year, then enters restricted free agency.  He will have an opportunity to build on this season and earn a long-term contract from the Detroit Red Wings.  This playoff series will leave an impression on the team, one way or another.

On the other hand, Howard is signed through 2018-19 at a cap hit of just under $5.3 million dollars.  That’s not an impossible contract to move, but it’s not easy either.  If he isn’t your starter that’s a ton of cap space sitting on your bench being not productive.

With the contract Mrazek is on, it’s likely both will start the season with the Detroit Red Wings.  GM Ken Holland will be patient and see what he has in Mrazek before making any rash decisions.  It’s up to Howard how he will bounce back and avoid being a distraction to his teammates.

Babcock will do all he can to have the Detroit Red Wings ready to meet the major challenge Tampa Bay is.  He’s picked the right goaltender, according to the numbers, to win now and avoid being bounced out early.  Next season is not now, and next year may not be Babcock’s problem.

Next: New York Rangers Trying To Fight History

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