Howard Replaces Mrazek In Loss, Happy To Be Back From Injury
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - After sitting out a month because of a groin injury, Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard got back on the ice Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Despite the lopsided loss, Howard could not keep a smile off his face when he talked about returning to action.
"I was excited," Howard said. "I was seriously excited to get back out there. It's been so long that whenever you can get back out there you want to.
"It was, even it was only four shots, it's still four shots I haven't had in a month," Howard added, "and that's how I was going to treat it going out there no matter what happened. It was going to be like a practice for me."
The Red Wings lost, 4-1, and they had trailed by the same margin when head coach Mike Babcock pulled goaltender Petr Mrazek after the end of the second period.
"The fourth one puts it out of reach," Babcock said. "I was going to put Howie in right then, but I just thought it made no sense - I talked to him - to put him in with a cold groin when you've been injured, so just waited 'til the end of the period to get him some ice time before he plays against Winnipeg.
"I think that's important," Babcock continued. "When you haven't played, the puck hits you, it bounces all over the place - you practice, but it's not a game, so to get him 20 minutes in a game and get him going will be positive for us."
Mrazek, originally the team's third goaltender, had won nine of the last 10 games for Detroit, but Babcock has stated repeatedly that Howard is still the number one option.
However, since Mrazek had been playing so well, Babcock named him the starter for Wednesday's game and Howard the back-up, with the understanding Howard would retake the starting job Saturday. While Babcock has been adamant that Howard is the starter, he has spoken highly of Mrazek, and giving him the start Wednesday certainly seemed to send a signal that while Howard is the current number one, Mrazek's success has not gone unnoticed.
"He's earned the right to play these games, so we gave him the opportunity," Babcock said. "I didn't think he was bad. I just thought our team was."
Howard said that while he was thrilled to get in Wednesday's game, it was unfortunate Mrazek's final start for the foreseeable future - he will likely return to Grand Rapids now - went so badly.
"Petr's done a tremendous job for us," Howard said. "He doesn't deserve that, but at the same time they were better than us for two periods. We picked it up in the third."
Howard had encouraging words for Mrazek, who kept his comments short after the game.
"Keep his chin up," Howard said. "What is he, 9-2 in the last 11? That's pretty impressive, so you've got to remember he's 22 years old. He's still pretty green when it comes to playing in the NHL, and he's only going to get better. He's got a great work ethic, and he wants to learn, so that's just the makings of going to be a good player."
Babcock agreed, noting that the team's poor showing Wednesday had little to do with the goaltender.
"They were good and we were bad," Babcock said. "They played fast; we played slow. They competed; we stood around. If it hadn't been for Mrazek, it could have been way worse."
