Opinion: Petr Mrazek should be starting Game 1

[Smite 399]

1. Helene St. James ‏@HeleneStJames 2m2 minutes ago

   Petr Mrazek says he's starting

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2. Ansar Khan ‏@AnsarKhanMLive 3m3 minutes ago

   Mrazek first goalie off the ice, generally indicating he's the starter tonight.

[WingsallTheway 383]

1. Helene St. James ‏@HeleneStJames 2m2 minutes ago

   Petr Mrazek says he's starting

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2. Ansar Khan ‏@AnsarKhanMLive 3m3 minutes ago

   Mrazek first goalie off the ice, generally indicating he's the starter tonight.

Thats very surprising, a rare bold move from babock

Edited March 31, 2015 by WingsallTheway

[rick zombo 3,739]

For an organization that loves to take their time developing their prospects, they are really throwing Mrazek into the fire. This team better not ruin this kid.

[derblaueClaus 1,668]

Yeah, I hope Babs decision is the right one. As I stated in the GDT I thought Howard looked good in the last two periods. Huge game tonight. Let's see what Mrazek is made of.

Edited March 31, 2015 by derblaueClaus

[gcom007 1,465]

• Helene St. James ‏@HeleneStJames 2m2 minutes ago

  Petr Mrazek says he's starting

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• Ansar Khan ‏@AnsarKhanMLive 3m3 minutes ago

  Mrazek first goalie off the ice, generally indicating he's the starter tonight.

That's mildly shocking. Nothing against Mrazek, but I would've thought Babcock would take almost any reason to ride Jimmy into the playoffs, slump or not. I like Mrazek, and I think he's taking Jimmy's job next year or the year after, but I just don't know how I feel about this being the year.

The one thing I thought that could be working in Mrazek's favor is the puck-moving ability and the fact that we tend to score a lot of goals when he's in net. When he's on, we're scoring and not giving up much. When he's off, we may give up more goals, but we're still scoring a lot of goals. Unless Howard is a far bigger mess than he seems, this is about the only reason I can see for really riding Mrazek into the playoffs.

[DickieDunn 2,571]

I think this is a test to see how well he bounces back from a crap game.

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

I stand by my thread title. Both goalies are stinking up the place right now, but I still feel better when Mrazek is on the ice.

I think if we were to go to the playoffs tomorrow against TB we would be bounced out in 6 or less, mostly because of the lack of consistent goaltending and defensive lapses.

[13dangledangle 968]

I think this is a test to see how well he bounces back from a crap game.

Very bold move and at this point it's as much directed at the players in front of Howard and Mrazek as it is at those two...One of the things about Mrazek that has been his biggest asset is his compete level is higher then most. The kid competes, I think he's going to do very well.

[MrazekFanBoy 223]

Petr is the new starter as of now I didn't expect Babs to do it man we'll see how it goes I suppose, I want him to runaway with it of course because of his potential to me he's our best prospect

[DSM 114]

Hindsight's 20/20, but the Wings should have grabbed one of Buffalo's goalies at the deadline as a rental insurance policy.

Here's why:

-Howard had been back for almost a month, but he clearly wasn't playing like he was before the injury. (2.81GAA/.901SV after injury vs. 2.11/.92 before)

-Gustavsson simply can't be trusted to stay healthy. (and got hurt in his first appearance after the deadline...)

-Mrazek clearly struggled handling the starters workload. Getting yanked in three of his last eight starts before Howard returned, and allowing four or more goals in four of those same eight games.

I'm certainly not saying that Jhonas Enroth or Michal Neuvirth would be an upgrade. However if Howard continued to struggle (and obviously has), both have starting experience and would've have given the Wings a better option than a goalie that can't stay healthy for a month to save his life, or a 22 year old that is playing like he's 22. Plus, both of those goalies are playing for a new home and salary raise this summer as UFA's and might have been motivated to play lights out if given an opportunity to fill in for a badly struggling Howard.

Both goalies were had for a struggling placeholder (Lindback and Johnson) and a conditional 3rd rounder. The Wings could've tossed in Gustavsson or maybe even McCollum to really help the McDavid tank.

If we want to go back even further, I called re-signing Gustavsson a horrible idea last spring. Looks like I was right... Thomas Greiss signed with the Penguins for a year with a cap hit just a tad more than Gustavssons, after having a way better year than Gus in 13/14. He's been healthy all season, and has numbers better than all three of the Wings goalies...

Just my thoughts.

Edited March 31, 2015 by DSM

[DRW Dominance 255]

I was shocked to hear mrazek starting tonight. I do love his puck moving ability!

[BottleOfSmoke 5,965]

@cotsonika: Not saying Jimmy Howard is better than Carey Price. But Price has a .909 save percentage in 42 NHL playoff games. Howard has a .919 in 45.

@cotsonika: Howard compares closely to Crawford. Both have .916 save percentages in regular season. Howard's at .919 in playoffs, Crawford .920.

Edited March 31, 2015 by BottleOfSmoke

[Euro_Twins 4,485]

@cotsonika: Not saying Jimmy Howard is better than Carey Price. But Price has a .909 save percentage in 42 NHL playoff games. Howard has a .919 in 45.

@cotsonika: Howard compares closely to Crawford. Both have .916 save percentages in regular season. Howard's at .919 in playoffs, Crawford .920.

#average

#jimmythetankit

[DSM 114]

I miss Joey MacDonald.

[chaps80 1,591]

Mraz sure looks like #1 tonight. It's great.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Mraz sure looks like #1 tonight. It's great.

And didn't at all on Sunday. I was impressed, but he's gotta string some together now.

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

And didn't at all on Sunday. I was impressed, but he's gotta string some together now.

He will. He just has to play more.

[chaps80 1,591]

He will. He just has to play more.

Looks like he's getting his chance now, but for how long? Babs will throw Howard out there eventually on a hope and a prayer he'll turn back into his All-Star form for the playoffs. It's hard for Mrazek to get into a rhythm when he does'nt know when he'll lose the job.

[number9 3,297]

Looks like Jimmy isn't the only one struggling in shootouts eh?

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Looks like he's getting his chance now, but for how long? Babs will throw Howard out there eventually on a hope and a prayer he'll turn back into his All-Star form for the playoffs. It's hard for Mrazek to get into a rhythm when he does'nt know when he'll lose the job.

Mrazek will have started five straight on Thursday and seven of the previous nine games. That's a pretty good chance to get a rhythm in a playoff race.

[number9 3,297]

"Jimmy was only good the first half because of our tight defense, then his true colors showed when he got exposed in the shootout"

Just a FYI to everyone who made this argument the last few days, I'm now taking up the exact same one about Mrazek.

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

Looks like Jimmy isn't the only one struggling in shootouts eh?

Eh, it was one game.

Looks like Jimmy isn't the only one struggling in shootouts eh?

I think this is the only one Mrazek's struggled with.

Mrazek will have started five straight on Thursday and seven of the previous nine games. That's a pretty good chance to get a rhythm in a playoff race.

Not really.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Eh, it was one game.

I think this is the only one Mrazek's struggled with.

Not really.

How much more is possible? He's basically getting every start at this point. I would say that's a fairly nice opportunity to prove yourself.

[Yzerfan87 146]

@cotsonika: Not saying Jimmy Howard is better than Carey Price. But Price has a .909 save percentage in 42 NHL playoff games. Howard has a .919 in 45.

@cotsonika: Howard compares closely to Crawford. Both have .916 save percentages in regular season. Howard's at .919 in playoffs, Crawford .920.

I've always compared Howard to Crawford. If Howard was the goalie for the Blackhawks he would have a cup with them too.

[chaps80 1,591]

Thurs. will be four straight starts for Mrazek. Got the shutout in Tampa, pulled against the Isles, and a shootout loss tonight where he was the only reason the team got a point. He's actually done decent considering, but three games is nothing. He's not even technically the full time backup. He's up cause of an injury. Gus will most likely get that job back if he comes back from his concussion.