Babcock On Goalie Decision: 'I Try To Take All The Emotion Out Of It'
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - When the Detroit Red Wings meet the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday for the first game of their playoff series, Petr Mrazek will be in net, having won the start over veteran Jimmy Howard.
"I just watched the guys play, and I just thought that that gave us our best way to start the series," Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock said Monday after the team's practice.
Howard started the season well, even earning an All-Star Game selection before he suffered a groin tear Jan. 10 and missed about a month. Mrazek played well in Howard's absence, so when Howard gave up eight goals in a span of two games in late March, Babcock put the starter role up for grabs.
At least for now, the 23-year-old Mrazek has taken hold of it.
Babcock said he made the decision after Saturday's game, in which Mrazek made 35 saves and shut out the Carolina Hurricanes. Babcock would not say whether he would characterize the choice of Mrazek over Howard as a difficult one, and he did not know how Howard took the news.
"I just posted the lineup and told [goaltending coach] Jimmy B to let the goalies know," Babcock said. "It's not about any of us right now. It's about the Detroit Red Wings. It's real simple ... The individual time of year is all over. It's all about the team."
"This is what I try to do - [New Jersey Devils general manager] Lou Lamoriello has an unbelievable rule," Babcock continued. "It's called, 'Don't confuse the player and the person.' And so what I do is I try to take all the emotion out of it, and I try to take the information I have by watching games, by talking to our staff, and then we make the decision that's best for the team."
Mrazek, who just weeks earlier had done his best to squelch the budding goaltender conversation by saying he still considered Howard the number one, did not say whether he was surprised he got the nod.
"It's their decision," Mrazek said, "and I can be just happy for that and do my best."
Mrazek said he and Howard had not yet talked about Mrazek getting the nod.
"We're going to talk about it, I'm sure, later," Mrazek said.
Howard did not speak with media Monday.
Babcock brushed off a question about the selection of Mrazek as a risky one and indicated that neither choice would be without its drawbacks.
"There's risk in anything you do," Babcock said. "If this was something that was obvious to the whole world, I guess, you guys wouldn't be spending five minutes of my time asking me the same questions over and over again."
Mrazek said he is very excited to get the start, but he insisted he views the playoff game just like any other game, and he said maintaining that mindset is not difficult.
"It's just a game," Mrazek said. "Who's going to score more goals is going to win. Who's going to be smarter and more patient is going to have the victory."
The goaltender debate has raged on for a while now, but veteran forward Henrik Zetterberg said the discussion has not been a distraction in the locker room.
"We're pretty used to that in this town," Zetterberg said. "It goes back to [Chris] Osgood and [Dominik] Hasek and Howie and Osgood. I think it's something they're used to, too. It's part of it. In here we focus on what we do, and people outside can worry about other stuff."
Zetterberg said players have no preference between Howard and Mrazek.
"We have the same trust and belief in both of them," Zetterberg said.
