Babcock On Howard Starting Tuesday: 'The Ball's In His Court'
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - Jimmy Howard will start in net for the Detroit Red Wings in Tuesday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes, head coach Mike Babcock confirmed after the team's morning skate.
Howard won the last start he made, which was Saturday against the Minnesota Wild. With backup Petr Mrazek starting Sunday, Detroit lost to the Washington Capitals.
Babcock has given both goaltenders opportunities to take control of the starting role, and he will do it again for Howard on Tuesday.
"He won last time out, he's our veteran guy, we gave him a time with Jimmy B [goaltending coach Jim Bedard] to try to freshen up and to get his game set up, he went in and he won a game in Minny, we didn't want to go back-to-back because it didn't work for us all year long when we tried it, so we went to Pete [Sunday]," Babcock said.
"And now Jimmy, the ball's in his court right here," Babcock added.
Howard allowed two goals and made 22 saves in Saturday's victory.
"I felt good out there," Howard said. "Was following the puck really well, and that's all I'm going to concentrate on tonight, is going out there and focusing on that one puck. Everything else will just fall into place."
The Red Wings have used both Howard and Mrazek in recent weeks. Babcock said Friday, when he announced both goaltenders would get a start over the weekend, that he had not thought out the situation - in terms of who would start next - beyond those two games.
Howard said he does not know whether Babcock will stick with him for the rest of the season and into the playoffs or whether starting goaltender will be a game-by-game decision.
