Mike Babcock delivered the answer on Monday to a question that’s been the source of tense puck-debate in Detroit over the last several weeks. 

Jimmy Howard or Petr Mrazek?

The cagey vet or the fresh-faced youngster?

On this day, youth has trumped experience. 

It’ll be Mrazek standing between the pipes on Thursday night when the Red Wings open their playoff clash with the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Just 23 years of age, Mrazek has never appeared in an NHL postseason game.  He has not seen the energy level rise, the on-ice intensity blasting to a whole new level.  He hasn’t dealt with hostile road crowds chanting, “Peeeee-tttttrrrr.  Peeeeee...tttttrrr,” an old-time hockey refrain that rowdy fans are known to inflict on a struggling netminder.

Howard Has Post-Season Experience

Howard has been through this before.  He’s eight years Mrazek’s senior and at 31, should theoretically be in the prime of his career as a goalie.  But his 45 playoff starts, totaling 21 wins and 24 defeats, were evidently not enough to sway Babcock in the graybeard’s favor. 

The situation could very well have still been up for grabs heading into the season’s final two games. 

Howard got the start in Montreal and failed to hold on to one-goal leads on two separate occasions.  The Red Wings lost 4-3 in overtime. 

Mrazek received the nod in the season finale at Carolina.  Young Petr pitched a shutout, obviously against an opponent far less daunting than Montreal, but any outing without a blemish in the NHL is worthy of respect.  The 35-save 2-0 victory sealed the final ballot in favor of Mrazek. 

Risky?

It’s a risky decision by Mr. Babcock.  The safe choice would have been to tab Howard, the former All-Star, the former Olympian, the guy that’s been through nearly 50 games in the Stanley Cup playoff meat grinder.

But oftentimes, the safe pick is not necessarily the right one.  Nor is it the one that carries with it the most potential for greatness.

Mrazek is most definitely unproven in this arena.  But how else does one create a playoff resumé without ever getting their first taste of action.  It has to come at some point, and in Babcock’s eyes, there is no time like the present.

The opponent Mrazek will face in his debut will present a significant challenge.  The Lightning were tops in the 30-team National Hockey League in goals scored.  They were in the top-ten in both power play and shorthanded goals scored.  Steven Stamkos, Tampa’s all-world center, pumped in 43 goals, second most in the league. 

The task at hand is formidable, but Babcock, with his wealth of coaching experience, feels comfortable handing the blocker and catcher over to a man not even half his age.

With all of the series in the NHL postseason being best-of-seven affairs, it’s not as if a switch can’t be made if Mrazek belly-flops in Florida.

But the hope is that Babcock’s roll of the dice will yield an unexpected jackpot, and that this day will be remembered as the one that catapulted the Red Wings on another extended spring march through the Stanley Cup playoff bracket.