Opinion: Petr Mrazek should be starting Game 1

[rick zombo 3,739]

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.

The only job Monster could take right now would be Howard’s

[number9 3,297]

The only job Monster could take right now would be Howard’s

His stat keeping for Babs has definitely gotten lax lately. Is his scrawny butt even keeping that spot on the bench warm? Gimme me some Monster

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

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.

Good game, get pulled, good game, get pulled is kind of a funky rhythm. It might work for a James Brown lyric, but I think we should go for something a little smoother and steady.

Edited April 1, 2015 by PavelValerievichDatsyuk

[evilmrt 636]

He looked awesome tonight. The team hung him out to dry for most of the game, and somehow it went to a shootout. This kid is legit.

[BottleOfSmoke 5,965]

@AnsarKhanMLive: Babcock said Mrazek will start Thursday vs. Boston and sounds like it's his job to lose.

[Euro_Twins 4,475]

@AnsarKhanMLive: Babcock said Mrazek will start Thursday vs. Boston and sounds like it's his job to lose.

Well at this point go with the hot hand

[mvanpop 98]

Well at this point go with the hot hand

I bet Howard's hands are hot right now. Probably a bit clammy too.

[amato 3,210]

Not to take anything away from mrazek.. but, I'm thinking Howard's groin wasn't 100% healed when he came back. Hopefully he heals faster than Weiss who appears to be permanently effected by his groin injury at this point....

Mrazek did look great last night. I don't think he should've started the game against the islanders. Two nights in a row was a mistake but he bounced back nicely. Offense needs to show up though. Pav & Sheahan being back will help tons.

[Ram 240]

My thoughts are, the goalie situation is likely to not be solved by the postseason if the Wings make it. Not the same whatsoever, but in a similar fashion to 2008 when Osgood was switched for Hasek, if Pete/Jim look like crap early in a playoff series, then Jim/Pete will come in. The way things are going I just don't see them figuring it out completely by season's end.

That all being said, I am glad Mraz is starting Thursday because he looked real solid for the majority of the game.

[number9 3,297]

My thoughts are, the goalie situation is likely to not be solved by the postseason if the Wings make it. Not the same whatsoever, but in a similar fashion to 2008 when Osgood was switched for Hasek, if Pete/Jim look like crap early in a playoff series, then Jim/Pete will come in. The way things are going I just don't see them figuring it out completely by season's end.

That all being said, I am glad Mraz is starting Thursday because he looked real solid for the majority of the game.

Defense made Mrazek look good. His true colors showed in the SO

[Ram 240]

Defense made Mrazek look good. His true colors showed in the SO

Disagree. Defense played better and that helped, but I really don't think the shootout is an indicator of playing well in a game or not. He came out and made some good saves in first and second periods when the Wings were getting embarrassingly outshot. Or that one break where he made a nice poke check at the last second, I don't think Jim is making that play right now. Yes Jim would benefit if the defense played like that a few games back, and Pete looked like garbo in the shootout, but that doesn't mean he had a bad game, IMO.

[number9 3,297]

Disagree. Defense played better and that helped, but I really don't think the shootout is an indicator of playing well in a game or not. He came out and made some good saves in first and second periods when the Wings were getting embarrassingly outshot. Or that one break where he made a nice poke check at the last second, I don't think Jim is making that play right now. Yes Jim would benefit if the defense played like that a few games back, and Pete looked like garbo in the shootout, but that doesn't mean he had a bad game, IMO.

Jim played the same way the first half of the season with the defense, only to be exposed by the in the SO as well.

[vladdy16 2,154]

Defense made Mrazek look good. His true colors showed in the SO

I have to disagree with this. There were a few good plays and one goal saved by possibly Kronwall, but the angle and height of my seats made it almost impossible to determine who is who, but the Wings D overall was not great last night. The Wings are not checking much at all. The Sens gained the zone at will, as evidenced by the huge SOG difference. I didn't watch the shootout (I never do) so I can't say what Petr's performance was like then, but if it was poor, I'd say he was just damn tired. He's the only reason we didn't get blown out of the water last night.

[Rivalred 630]

Jim played the same way the first half of the season with the defense, only to be exposed by the in the SO as well.

I have to disagree with you also. Sens powered their way through the forward corps and Mrazek kept the team in the game, Wings didn't generate much for offense. Defense was scrambling last night for the most part

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

Defense made Mrazek look good. His true colors showed in the SO

Riiiiiiiiiiiight smh

Jim played the same way the first half of the season with the defense, only to be exposed by the in the SO as well.

You seem to forget Petr has had maybe one one bad shootout and Jimmy?

[amato 3,210]

Defense made Mrazek look good. His true colors showed in the SO

April fool's day.... I'm not buying it

[vladdy16 2,154]

April fool's day.... I'm not buying it

Crap! Forgot about that. In my defense, I only got about 5 hours of sleep. Curse you, number9!

[MrazekFanBoy 223]

Isn't jimmy like 5-15 in the shootout since last season lmfao Mrazek is 2-2 and I'm not even mad about this loss the team was garbage, when Jimmy loses in shootouts we actually play a decent game

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Defense made Mrazek look good. His true colors showed in the SO

#1 goalie always gets crapped on in Detroit

[The Greek 323]

Defense made Mrazek look good. His true colors showed in the SO

C'mon, that's not fair. First, shootouts are a terrible indicator of a goalie's ability. Second, the kid has showed numerous times that he has tons of talent. Mrazek has already stolen several games/points, and done so with a relatively small sample size. The only reason I've been hesitant to anoint him #1 is because he has trouble with consistency, as do most rookies.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Isn't jimmy like 5-15 in the shootout since last season lmfao Mrazek is 2-2 and I'm not even mad about this loss the team was garbage, when Jimmy loses in shootouts we actually play a decent game

That's just not true. There were plenty of instances in the first half where Jimmy alone got the team into the shootout.

[number9 3,297]

Mrazek is a carbon copy of Howard. Streaky and terrible in shoot outs.

But I get it... Mrazek is shiny and new ooooo ahhhhh

[Ram 240]

Mrazek is a carbon copy of Howard. Streaky and terrible in shoot outs.

But I get it... Mrazek is shiny and new ooooo ahhhhh

Again, I don't think the goalie situation will be figured out by a potential postseason game. If Mrazek plays two bad games a row, I can see Jimmy being in the spot until he plays, two bad games in a row. They're just not interchangable at this time because Mraz looked pretty good yesterday, no?

[DSM 114]

With RFA status looming, Mrazeks agent should be BEGGING him to go 2006 Cam Ward for the rest of this season and into the playoffs.

If Holland can give $1.85M to a mediocre backup that perennially challenges Marc Savard and Chris Pronger for time spent on IR, how much is actually playing and stealing the starting job worth?

I'd be badgering Holland for atleast $2.5M and patiently waiting for the Oilers or Leafs offer sheet.

Edited April 1, 2015 by DSM

[The Greek 323]

Mrazek is a carbon copy of Howard. Streaky and terrible in shoot outs.

But I get it... Mrazek is shiny and new ooooo ahhhhh

You can't say that. When howard was at the stage of his career that Mrazek is at now, it wasn't even clear that Howard would be an nhl starter. Although I think Howard Is underrated, Mrazek's ceiling is higher now than Howard's ever was. Mrazek's only real issue is consistency. If he takes care of that, he'll be a top 5 goalie.