Petr Mrazek will be the Detroit Red Wings goaltender for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference First Round Series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; CNBC, TVA Sports, SN, FS-F), coach Mike Babcock said.
Mrazek, who went 16-9-2 with a 2.38 goals-against average and .918 save percentage in 29 games, gets the nod over Jimmy Howard, who, when healthy, has been the Red Wings goalie in the Stanley Cup Playoffs each of the past five seasons. Howard went 23-13-11 with a 2.44 GAA and .910 save percentage in 53 games.
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