chaps80

Great save Mraz. And another PP for Dallas...

Good for him. Always liked him. Too bad the Wings needed Legwand so bad. Since going to Dallas he's done pretty well, but this season wow..already almost at his full point total from last season 22 games in.

He did have a four game losing stretch where he allowed 4 goals in each game and was 0-3-1. I don't see where he's ever been "bailed out" in any of his wins though. Allowing 3 goals twice while facing 33 and 37 shots?

Rather have Ott over Miller as well. I don't think Miller would clear waivers either for some reason, so his contract would be gone. Wow that Vanek pass to Nyquist for the first goal against BUF was sick!!

I've been around here since early 2000 as well. Just under different nicks and never for a long period up until a couple years ago. There's lots of old names from back then I don't see here anymore.

Good points. He also does need to learn how to play himself out of slumps though. Just think Blash is too quick to turn to Howard at this point, and for too long. Had he not been injured, he probly would have started tonight even though Mrazek played great on Saturday. He'll figure things out though I guess. Yeah, gotcha.

He won 3 of 7.

The bandwagoners have left the building. Or website in this case.

Holy s***, was that defence by DD to save a goal???

Hopefully. Never know with Holland though...

Nice one Mantha!!! And there's Kronwall to the box...

Finally a level headed response. I didn't expect Mrazek to play every game..no starter does. Brodeur used to play all but ten of the Devils' games, but that was Brodeur. Anyways, Mrazek has played two games more than Howard counting tonight. That's a tandem to me. not a starter getting a break. Can def agree he hasn't sucked. His numbers don't tell the whole story that's for sure. He was great till end of October, had three bad starts with a good job in relief of Howard against MTL in between. Past two he's looked great.

Funny how the most goals he's allowed in any of his wins is 3. Huge bail out.

Hasek won the Vezina with great personal numbers because that's how the award is won. It's very simple.why even ask a question like that? Did I ever say Mrazek's numbers are Vezina worthy? At one point last season they were, but def not right now. Lol I'm not "covering up" for anyone. To me, getting the win is more important than stellar numbers. It is a team sport after all. Just like I don't care if any players win scoring titles. Big deal. I didn't ask your opinion anyways. Your happy Howard has great numbers but is a. 500 goalie, cool man.

I don't hate Howard. Not trying to use him to make Mrazek look better. I've already said Howard has been the better of the two. Maybe I just like to see players get their fair shots, which Mrazek was not given. If your not gonna stick with your starter, then don't have one. You want a battle for the job, then have one. Simple as that. I'd feel the other way if it was Howard who lost the job. Yes i've brought up Howard's past fault's in talking about Mrazek's play and comparing the two, but that's warranted.

It's a different way of looking at things yes, but ridiculous, no. Anyways, it is what it is. Mrazek was 4-4-1 when he lost the starting job. He lost his starting job 9 games into the season with a pretty much even record on a horrible defensive team. Does that make sense? Sound like the move was a bit rushed? Who cares how Howard was playing. It shouldn't even have factored in, because he was officially the BACKUP. Everyone overlooks that fact it seems. Mrazek earned that starting job according to coaching and management, but has it given to his backup 9 games in when Blash panicks. That's awesome coaching right there huh? Way to have a bit of faith in the guy you chose. Oh well, whoever will play will play, but i'll be glad when all the flip flopping of starting goalies is over next season.

This is s***ty. Damn Emelin. Too bad he's just gonna do it again though cause the Wings just take stuff like this dry.

Well as for the starter thing, he obv isn't anymore. Wasn't even given much of a shot before Blash jumped the gun and started turning to Howard. Sometimes your starter has a rough beginning to the season, especially in his second season in the league. Doesn't mean you turn to the backup that quickly, and you def don't hand him the reigns full time. s***ty move. Give him a good chance first. Like i've said before, it is what it is. Next season they'll let Mrazek play and learn from his mistakes maybe instead of simply benching him because Howard is there because Howard won't be there. And the difference in experience is a factor. Howard should have been off this team awhile back. No excuses for the huge 2-3 year slump he went through bein being a vet goalie in the league. He was horrible and everyone would have traded him for a set of moldy '70's goalie equipment. Amazing how a lot of those same people love him again after 11 starts, 9 he didn't make a mess out of. And I guess my personal numbers thing came across wrong. Mrazek lost 7 games, Howard lost 5. Not a big difference. Sure Mrazek has allowed more goals, but wins are wins. Howard has allowed less goals, but wins are wins. Personal numbers are for statistics and awards. Wins get you towards the main goal, which is the Cup. And yes, a GAA over 3.00 sucks, but he's not 0-11. That's my point. And on Saturday, Mrazek lost by a goal and got a point from the team that blew out Howard earlier in the season. Things easily go the other way. So I dunno, guess i'll keep "blindly defending" Mrazek for having bad numbers 12 starts into his second season while most others "blindly defend " Howard because not sucking in 9 games this season apparently makes up for the horror show that half his 7-8 year career has been while both have 5 wins each.

That is sad. No instigating fights or sending guys out purposely to injure anymore. Oh wait...Emelin.

Oh. Haha i'm not a Star Wars fan. Therefore, I did not get it. Well Babcock is long gone and Ott wasn't signed to be good. lol

I'm not blindly defending him. Howard has been better this season obv, but Mrazek hasn't been horrible. Mrazek started 12 games and is 5-5-2, Howard has started 11 and is 5-5-0. 4 of his losses were below .900 sv%. Howard has 2 under that mark.Not much difference there. Overall though Howard has much better personal numbers:19 GA 1.82 GAA .940 SV%. Mrazek: 36 GA 3.07 GAA .898 SV%. Personal numbers don't really matter when compared to wins and losses though. That's why you play the game. You might say that Howard SHOULD have those numbers 7 seasons into his career though. Mrazek hasn't even played 2 full seasons, but for the majority of his time on the team with Howard, he's been the better goalie.

I did bring Mrazek up, but I also had to comment on Howard's play as well. Talking about trading Mrazek leaves the team where? With a goalie who has the same type of track record as the one the person was speaking out against? They are both good goaltenders, i'm not debating that. It just seems that since Howard started playing like he was years ago all of a sudden, Mrazek needs to prove himself or something according to some. I'm a fan of both goalies. I haven't burned my Howard jersey or anything..just tired of people taking what Howard has done so far this season and using it against Mrazek and saying he's inconsistent when Howard has had plenty of trouble in that area as well.

This.

Yeah, cause Howard is consistency defined. Some people man. Ya let's trade our very promising goalie of the future after not even two full NHL seasons that he's basically split with Howard where he had some rough patches and didn't play like '99 playoffs Hasek every night. Smartttt!

Agreed. Why does this team even bother signing gritty/agitating/fighter types when they will never be used. First Tootoo, now Ott. If you want a team full of small skill guys and big guys who play like they are as small as those skill guys, then keep it that way. Don't get our hopes up that we might finally see payback for all the nightly cheapshots and injury attempts when it won't happen. I know "the league has changed", etc., etc. But last night was an indication the young guys and skill guys need backup, especially since it was ONE player skating around pulling off all that crap. Don't single him out and get him back or anything. Let him break Larkin's leg and Nielson's arm..we don't need them anyways! Sick of this team being full of ******* that get pushed around every damn night.