Howard Pulled After First Period In Loss; Mrazek Will Start Saturday
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - The starting goaltender job for the Detroit Red Wings appears to be up for grabs.
Jimmy Howard struggled again Thursday against the San Jose Sharks, giving up three goals on 10 shots before head coach Mike Babcock pulled him after the first period. In Tuesday's game against the Arizona Coyotes, Howard allowed five goals.
Asked after Thursday's game whether the Red Wings have a No. 1 goaltender, Babcock gave an indirect but revealing answer.
"I'm starting Pete Mrazek next game," Babcock said.
"Pete Mrazek's got to get himself ready to go, give Pete an opportunity here because we need that area fixed," Babcock added later, "and then, it's amazing when you get a little confidence in that area, we can all settle down and get playing better again."
Mrazek did not perform particularly well when he replaced Howard on Thursday, allowing two goals on 19 shots. Babcock said the team has to have more from him.
"We need him to hunker down and play the way he's capable of playing," Babcock said.
The coach did not offer any explanations for what has been wrong with Howard, who was selected to the All-Star Game before he missed most of January with a groin injury.
"I haven't talked to him," Babcock said after the game. "I'll leave him alone. I'll talk to him tomorrow, but obviously it didn't go the way he wanted. He's a proud guy. We gave him an opportunity to bounce back; he didn't do that."
The Red Wings have lost eight games in March, and with nine games remaining in the regular season, Detroit sits in third place in its division with 90 points. The Red Wings trail the Tampa Bay Lightning (99 points) and the Montreal Candiens (100 points) by considerable margins.
"You can't really point the finger at one aspect, I don't think," defenseman Danny DeKeyser said. "I think the D have to be better getting back to pucks, I think the forwards need to be better helping out, and I think the goalies need to be better, too ... As a whole, we just have to improve our play, the whole team."
