Red Wings Can Shake It Up By Starting Mrazek vs. Ottawa

Detroit Red Wings coach Todd McLellan isn’t revealing his starting goalie for Monday’s game against the Ottawa Senators. But there is plenty of logic attached to the idea of starting newly-acquired Petr Mrazek.

The Red Wings have lost five games in a row, and have a poor recent history in Canada’s capital. They are 1-6-1 in their last eight there, and four of those losses were by three or more goals. Plus, this game has heavy playoff implications. Losing it would severely damage their playoff hopes.

It seems like the right time for a shake-up.

“We have a high belief system in all three (goalies),” McLellan said. “Obviously, we haven’t seen Mrazek play yet for our team, but we wouldn’t have him here if we didn’t believe in him. We’ve had to get a little more production out of that position, as we do D, forwards and the coaching staff.”

Mrazek started his career with Detroit in 2012-13, and played there until 2017-18. It should be a comfortable transition for him. He and forward Craig Smith, who came from Chicago with Mrazek, practiced with the Red Wings for the first time Sunday. But Mrazek hasn’t appeared in an NHL game in 10 days. Playing for a poor team in Chicago, Mrazek owns a 3.46 goals-against average this season.

Detroit Struggling Defensively

He’s joining a Detroit team that has given up 41 goals in the past 10 games. The Red Wings have given up four or more goals in eight of those games.

“We’re counting on (Mrazek) being better here in Detroit, but better here in Detroit is tied to how 18 other players play around him,” McLellan said. “We’re hard on the goaltenders, I’m sure you’re hard on the goaltenders, I’m sure the fans are hard on the goaltenders, but it’s our job to help them and we haven’t done a real good job of helping our goaltenders. ”

McLellan said he has talked to Alex Lyon, Cam Talbot and Mrazek about how this new three-man rotation might work.

“The one that needed to be laid out a lot more was three goaltenders, only two dress for a game, there’s only two nets,” McLellan said. “But I thought that conversation was real direct, it was short and to the point.)

Mrazek’s excitement about joining the Red Wings seems genuine.

“Playoff is the best time of the year.” he said. “And those last 20 games, we have to make fun of it and we have to just battle hard and try again.”