Babcock Calls Tuesday's Game An Opportunity For Mrazek To Bounce Back
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - In Sunday's game against the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek gave up three goals in the first period before he was pulled and replaced with backup Tom McCollum.
Mrazek, 22, gets his first chance to wipe the slate clean when the Red Wings host the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night. Babcock did not seem overly concerned with Mrazek's failings against Buffalo, noting that his teammates had looked awful as well.
"The team was brutal, let's be honest," Babcock said. "[Mrazek] was part of it, and no one was prepared to play, and he never got an opportunity to play in the second and third where everyone else got an opportunity to bail themselves out.
"He has an opportunity here today, and that's what the league's about," Babcock continued. "It's an every day league. Part of being a young guy is when you have success ... you dwell on the success instead of getting ready for tomorrow. That happens lots in back-to-back games with young guys, so here's an opportunity to bounce back."
With both Jimmy Howard and Jonas Gustavsson injured, Detroit needs solid performances from Mrazek and McCollum, 25, as the team vies for the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings. The Red Wings, with 61 points, currently trail the New York Islanders (63) and the Tampa Bay Lightning (62).
Detroit has a record of 6-2 in January and is currently riding a four-game win streak. Mrazek has been key this month. In the six games he has played in January, five times he has limited opponents to two goals or fewer.
Like Babcock, defenseman Jonathan Ericsson did not express any kind of long-term concern with Mrazek, noting the early goals Sunday were not entirely the result of mistakes by the young player.
"I think he was harder on himself than he needed to be," Ericsson said. "I think he couldn't really do anything on any of those three first goals. It was redirects on two of them, and the first one just like a rocket from I don't know, 12 feet away or something. There's nothing you can do on any of those goals ... He's been playing great for us, and we have all the confidence in the world in him.
"He's playing really confident, like he's really comfortable back there," Ericsson added. "He's making plays with the stick, too, and just that's showing that he's really confident out there, so we have all the trust in him."
