Detroit Red Wings Clips January 13, 2015

Detroit Red Wings PAGE 2 Pulkkinen can shoot, but must score to stay with Wings PAGE 3 Red Wings players have fond memories of Hasek PAGE 5 Red Wings' Mrazek vows to be ready as Howard's fill-in PAGE 7 It's business as usual for Petr Mrazek as Red Wings' No. 1 goalie after

Jimmy Howard injury PAGE 9 5 things to watch: Red Wings' injury list growing while several teams

behind them gaining ground PAGE 11 Red Wings' midseason grades: Ahead of last season's pace, but greater

challenges loom in second half PAGE 15 Mrazek ready for opportunity to take over top spot PAGE 17 Pat Caputo - Schedule, Jimmy Howard injury severely test Detroit Red

Wings PAGE 19 Notes: Fitting that Mrazek starts on Hasek jersey ceremony night PAGE 22 Tom McCollum eager for another opportunity to prove himself with Red

Wings but will he get it?

Pulkkinen can shoot, but must score to stay with Wings By Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 9:36 p.m. EST January 12, 2015 Teemu Pulkkinen registered three shots on net in his first game this season, which is good. If he wants to stick around, though, he needs some of those shots to hit the back of the net. Pulkkinen gets chance No. 2 to show off that right-handed-shot rocket when the Red Wings play tonight at Buffalo, which has lost seven in a row. The night will start with the Sabres retiring the number of goaltender Dominik Hasek, who went on to Stanley Cup success with the Wings. Pulkkinen has shown he can score at the American Hockey League level — with 20 goals this season and 31 last season; now he has eyes at the NHL level. Coach Mike Babcock gave Pulkkinen, 23, good marks for his performance Saturday in a loss at Washington, but the real test is whether Pulkkinen can stay in the lineup. "Is he an NHL player that can take someone's job, that's up to him," Babcock said. "I'm just going to watch. I don't worry too much about comfort — either you make yourself comfortable and you take a job or you play somewhere else. "I mean, he can shoot the puck. He's a kid, we'll watch him and see what he can do." There's a little breathing room for Pulkkinen because fellow wingers Johan Franzen and Tomas Jurco are out with injuries. Pulkkinen got a chunk of playing time against the Capitals, topping 16 minutes, and he was in the group Babcock fielded in the last minute as the Wings desperately sought to balance a two-goal deficit. Pulkkinen said that gave him a little more confidence. "It's nice to be out there when we try to score goals," he said. "It was for sure better than last year. I played lots more minutes, had some power-play time there. It was good, but I can be better." Pulkkinen, a fourth-round pick in 2010, had four shots in three appearances with the Wings last season. He's not big, generously listed as 5-feet-10, but he loves to shoot. Fellow small forward Tomas Tatar has shown that can make up for size. Tatar had some advice, having recently transformed himself from AHL star to NHL scorer. "You just have to play kind of simple, show the coach you don't do any mistakes, and I think the confidence will come when he plays more and more," Tatar said of Pulkkinen. "We know we can count on his shot — he's got a rocket — and hopefully he'll find the net soon." Detroit Free Press LOADED: 01.13.2015

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Red Wings players have fond memories of Hasek Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 9:05 p.m. EST January 12, 2015 Buffalo, N.Y. — The old stories about Dominik Hasek were flying fast around the Red Wings locker room Monday. Hasek will have his No. 39 retired by the Sabres, where Hasek starred before arriving in Detroit for the 2001-02 season and helping the Red Wings win a Stanley Cup. He then backed up Chris Osgood while the Red Wings won another Stanley Cup in 2007-08. "I can't tell you about it," coach Mike Babcock said regarding his favorite Hasek story. "I have a favorite memory and I still enjoy talking about it but it wouldn't be good in a newspaper." For Niklas Kronwall, it was the sight of Hasek coming out of the net, sliding, and catapulting a charging Marian Gaborik through the air Henrik Zetterberg has heard the one about Hasek not having a good practice, then penalizing himself by staying the night in the trainer's room. "I heard about it," Zetterberg said. "I'm not sure if that's true but it wouldn't surprise me at all." Babcock and Red Wings players were thrilled to know they will be part of Hasek's ceremony, especially with the impact he had with the Red Wings and the player he was. "One of the great players to play the game, and for a stretch of about six years there, he was the best player in the league," Babcock said. "He was a star, he did it his way, and I enjoyed Dom a lot." Zetterberg felt it impacted his career watching Hasek's competitiveness in practice, and the fact the goalie didn't like to be scored on even in practice. "He got real mad if you scored on him," Zetterberg said. "He was battling real hard in every practice. For me as a young player coming in, and seeing that kind of battle, it helped me knowing I had to go harder." Said Kronwall: "I've never seen anyone like that in practice, how we wanted to stop the puck more than anything. When he didn't have a good game, he'd have the young players shoot on him on off days. "It's awesome anytime anyone gets their jersey retired, always fun to be part of it. And with Dom playing in Detroit all those years, it'll be a special night." Howard update The Red Wings had no further update on Jimmy Howard, who was scheduled to have an ultrasound Monday.

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Tests Sunday revealed a slight groin tear suffered in Saturday's loss in Washington, which could keep Howard out of the lineup from two to four weeks and possibly longer. All Babcock would confirm Monday after practice was Howard wouldn't be playing in the Jan. 25 All-Star Game in Columbus (Howard was chosen Saturday for the game). "We're just going to go week to week and pretty soon it'll be day to day," said Babcock of Howard's absence from the lineup. "I just know with groins, it takes forever. They say it's 10 days (a player will be gone) and three weeks later you're talking about him." Return home It was good timing for goalie Tom McCollum, who was recalled from Grand Rapids when Howard was injured and was practicing in Buffalo, about 40 minutes where McCollum grew up in suburban Buffalo. And especially getting to be in uniform tonight on the evening the Sabres are retiring Hasek's number. "I grew up watching him play every game, watching him play in this building," McCollum said. "It'll be exciting to be in this building." McCollum, 25, was 10-8-3 with Grand Rapids, with a 2.33 goals-against average and .911 save percentage. "I'm just excited to be here," said McCollum, a 2008 first-round draft pick. "I have no idea for how long, but I'm just looking forward to working real hard and in practice and playing the best I can." Detroit News LOADED: 01.13.2015

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Red Wings' Mrazek vows to be ready as Howard's fill-in Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 6:49 p.m. EST January 12, 2015 Buffalo, N.Y. — They started the season together in Grand Rapids, and actually have been the Griffins' goaltending tandem for the past two seasons, but Monday they were on the ice at First Niagara Center wearing Red Wings practice jerseys. And in the locker room, Petr Mrazek and Tom McCollum sat side by side and talked and laughed comfortably, like longtime teammates would. With Jimmy Howard (groin) and Jonas Gustavsson (shoulder) unavailable temporarily, Mrazek and McCollum are the Red Wings' goaltenders. "It's nice to be together again," Mrazek said of his old goalie partner. "It doesn't matter where it is, here or Grand Rapids. We're going to try to win games." That responsibility, the winning games part, mainly will fall into Mrazek's lap, as he'll be the No. 1 man on the depth chart with Howard out of the lineup after injuring his groin Saturday in Washington. Mrazek, 22, has looked every bit the NHL-level goalie many have thought he'd become since filling in for Gustavsson, after Gustavsson separated his shoulder Nov. 5 at the New York Rangers. With a 5-3-1 record, a 2.29 goals-against average and .916 save percentage, Mrazek has filled in admirably while giving Howard a breather. Over the span of three seasons with the Red Wings, while being called up from Grand Rapids at various times, Mrazek has an NHL record of 8-8-1 record (2.03 GAA, .921 SVS). But now it'll be Mrazek being the nightly starter. "If you're playing every night, or every three or four games, it doesn't matter, you have to be ready," Mrazek said. "It doesn't matter. You have to be mentally strong. If you let in any bad goals, you have to be mentally strong and stay patient." The Red Wings, and many scouts around the NHL, always have felt Mrazek had the demeanor, confidence and physical ability to be successful in the NHL. Mrazek handles the puck well, and plays with a brashness at times that gives teammates reason to believe in him. With Mrazek in net, don't expect any significant changes in terms of style or schemes around the Red Wings. "Every time Pete has been played, he's been playing real good," captain Henrik Zetterberg said. "He plays with confidence. The way he plays the puck. Obviously we want Howie to come back as soon as possible, but Petr will do the job in the meantime." Zetterberg made mention of Mrazek's ability to handle the puck after Wednesday's victory in Calgary, in which Mrazek earned the win.

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"He plays the puck unbelievable," Zetterberg said. "He reads the plays real well. It's fun to have him back there. We know he plays 60 minutes and he's going to give a chance to win." Both Mrazek and coach Mike Babcock view this as an excellent opportunity for Mrazek to show everyone he can play regularly in the NHL and show people his time is now, and not several years away. "It's a great opportunity but it's going to be the same (as always)," Mrazek said. "I have to battle and play hard and do the best I can." Babcock wants Mrazek to be composed and play to his ability. "He has an opportunity to establish himself," Babcock said. "The biggest thing is being calm and poised, and don't worry about what goes in. Worry about the next save. To me, that's what the best goalies do. Tuesday's start against Buffalo will be special for Mrazek, a native of the Czech Republic, who'll start opposite fellow Czech Michal Neuvirth on the evening former Sabres and Red Wings Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek, another Czech, will have his No. 39 retired by the Sabres. "That was my hero growing up," Mrazek said. "It'll be special for everyone in here who played with him. "I never met Dom. It's going to be my first time (meeting Hasek). He was special. He played with a definite style. When we were younger and playing on the streets or playing outside for fun, we were either Hasek or Jaromir Jagr (another Czech legend)." Detroit News LOADED: 01.13.2015

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It's business as usual for Petr Mrazek as Red Wings' No. 1 goalie after Jimmy Howard injury Brendan Savage | on January 12, 2015 at 4:59 PM, updated January 12, 2015 at 5:00 PM BUFFALO, N.Y. - Petr Mrazek says he approaches a game the same way regardless of whether or not he's starting. So the Detroit Red Wings young goaltender isn't going to change anything now that he's become the club's No. 1 netminder - at least for the time being - with Jimmy Howard (groin) and Jonas Gustavsson (shoulder) both sidelined by injuries. "It doesn't matter," Mrazek said Monday at First Niagara Center. "You have to be mentally strong anyways. If you let in any bad goals, be mentally strong and be patient. If you're playing every night or every three or four games, it doesn't matter. You have to be ready. "It's a great opportunity. I'll play hard and do my best." Mrazek will be making his eighth start of the season Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres. In nine appearances for the Red Wings this season, the 22-year-old Mrazek has a5-3-1 record, 2.29 goals-against average and .916 save percentage in seven starts. He's appeared in 20 games with Detroit over the past three seasons and has a 8-8-1 record, 2.03 GAA and .921 save percentage with two shutouts. Captain Henrik Zetterberg said the Red Wings have no concerns about Mrazek taking over for Howard and won't play any differently. "No, not really," Zetterberg said. "I think every time Petr's been playing, he's been playing really good. He plays with confidence. He plays the puck. Obviously we want to get Howie back as soon as possible but Petr will do his job." Mrazek will be making his second start of the season against the Sabres. He made 13 saves Dec. 23 in a 6-3 victory at Joe Louis Arena, where the Red Wings erupted for a season-high four power-play goals. That game marked Mrazek's first victory at home and was also the first time he had faced the Sabres. The Red Wings recalled Tom McCollum, a 2008 first-round draft choice, to serve as their backup goaltender but it appears as if they're going to ride Mrazek until either Howard or Gustavsson return. "He's got to handle it," said coach Mike Babcock. "The biggest thing is to just be calm and poised and don't worry about what goes in, worry about the next save. To me that's what the best goalies do."

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Babcock said he hasn't thought past the Buffalo games in terms of whether McCollum will get a start with four games on the schedule in the next six nights, including back-to-back home games Saturday vs. Nashville and Sunday against Buffalo. He also doesn't know when Howard will return. "I can give you an update but we don't know," Babcock said. "How is that? We're just going to go week to week and pretty soon it'll be day to day." While Mrazek might be approaching Tuesday's game like any other, there is one thing that will make it special - his childhood hero, Dominik Hasek, will have his No. 39 retired in a pregame ceremony. Mrazek and Hasek, who helped the Red Wings win two Stanley Cups, are both Czech Republic natives and Mrazek grew up idolizing his countryman. "I think it's a special thing for everyone in here who played with him," Mrazek said. "That was my growing-up hero. So I'm pretty excited for that. "I never met Dom. So I think it's going to be the first time tomorrow that I see him." Michigan Live LOADED: 01.13.2015

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5 things to watch: Red Wings' injury list growing while several teams behind them gaining ground Ansar Khan on January 12, 2015 at 6:09 AM, updated January 12, 2015 at 12:23 PM The Detroit Red Wings, following two injury-riddled seasons, have been fairly healthy - until last week. First, they lost forwards Johan Franzen (possible concussion) and Tomas Jurco (back). Now it appears goaltender Jimmy Howard will be out a while due to a groin injury. They were already missing goalie Jonas Gustavsson (shoulder) and defenseman Jakub Kindl (sprained elbow). The Red Wings are only five points behind Eastern Conference-leading Tampa Bay. But several teams below them are gaining ground. Washington is 11-1-4 in its past 16 games. The New York Rangers have won five in a row. Boston and Florida each have won three consecutive games. Here are five things to watch this week: 1. Howard diagnosis due on Monday The Red Wings should have a better indication of the severity of Howard's injury following results of an ultrasound on Monday. He underwent an MRI on Sunday but it wasn't conclusive. General manager Ken Holland expects Howard will be out at least a couple of weeks with a slight tear in his groin. Petr Mrazek assumes the starting role in the meantime, with Tom McCollum backing up. Gustavsson might be a week or two away from being cleared. 2. Hasek retirement ceremony in Buffalo The Red Wings will be in Buffalo Tuesday, when the Sabres raise goaltender Dominik Hasek's No. 39 to the rafters at First Niagara Center during a pregame ceremony. Hasek, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November, had his best seasons in Buffalo, where he won six Vezina Trophies as the NHL's top goaltender and two Hart Trophies as league MVP. He enjoyed his greatest team success with the Red Wings, winning Stanley Cups in 2002 (as the starter) and 2008 (as the backup). 3. Two games vs. cellar-dwelling Sabres The Red Wings play the Sabres twice this week -- Tuesday in Buffalo and Sunday in Detroit. The Sabres have lost seven in a row and are 1-10-1 following a 10-3 stretch. They are tied with Carolina for last place in the Eastern Conference. They're last in the league in

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goals per game (1.79), the power play (9.2 percent) and goals allowed (3.40). Their minus-66 goal differential is the worst in the NHL. The teams have split two games - Buffalo won 3-2 in a shootout on Nov. 2 and Detroit prevailed 6-3 on Dec. 23. 4. Tough matchups with St. Louis, Nashville Tough matchups at St. Louis Thursday and at home vs. Nashville on Saturday are sandwiched between the Buffalo games. The Blues, with the top-rated power player in the league, have won four in a row and are in third place in a tough Central Division, trailing Nashville and Chicago. Two of Mrazek's eight NHL wins have come in St. Louis, including a 3-0 victory in the season finale last year. Nashville has a league-leading 60 points in its first season under coach Peter Laviolette. The Predators are first in the league in goals against, due in large part to goalie Pekka Rinne, who is 28-6-2 with a 1.98 goals-against average. It will be the Red Wings' first game against Calle Jarnkrok, their former center prospect dealt to the Predators at the March trade deadline for David Legwand. Jarnkrok has 11 points (five goals, six assists) and a plus-8 rating in 37 games. 5. All-Star Game replacement needed Howard was the lone Red Wing selected for the All-Star Game Jan. 25 in Columbus. Every team must be represented, so the league will choose another Red Wing. It will have to be a skater, however. Possibilities include Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar or Niklas Kronwall. The NHL also needs a sixth goalie to replace Howard. Michigan Live LOADED: 01.13.2015

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Red Wings' midseason grades: Ahead of last season's pace, but greater challenges loom in second half Ansar Khan on January 13, 2015 at 1:04 AM, updated January 13, 2015 at 1:05 AM The Detroit Red Wings have virtually the exact same roster as they did a year ago, but as they passed the midway point of the season, their outlook appeared brighter. The Red Wings (22-11-9) have 53 points through 42 games, one past the halfway mark. That's seven more points than they collected after the same number of games in 2013-14, when they were decimated by injuries and just trying to survive and make the playoffs. This year, they've been relatively healthy. Their young players have continued to grow. Their special teams have excellent. And goaltender Jimmy Howard has rebounded from a mediocre season. But now Howard might be out for some time after suffering a groin injury in Saturday's 3-1 loss at Washington. The Red Wings are five points behind the Eastern Conference-leading Tampa Bay Lightning, with two games in hand. They're on pace to top 100 points and have put themselves in good position to extend their playoff streak to 24 seasons. But they can't afford a prolonged slump. Several teams behind them in the Eastern Conference - the New York Rangers, Boston and Florida - are gaining ground, a and the red-hot Capitals have passed them (which only matters if they're competing for a wild-card spot). "Overall, we have to be happy," general manager Ken Holland said. "We've had lots of positives. "We're top five in the league in goals against. Jimmy Howard has had a great first half. I think our defense has played pretty well. (Gustav) Nyquist and (Tomas) Tatar look like they're on pace for 25-30 goals each if they can keep it going. We're top five in power play; we're top five in penalty killing. "I think we've played ourselves in a position where we control our own fate." Their best players, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, have had better luck with health after each was limited to 45 games last season. Young players Nyquist, Tatar, Riley Sheahan and Danny DeKeyser haven't taken a step back like some feared. Justin Abdelkader is having a breakout season. It's a faster, deeper team than it was a year ago. "We feel we have a better team," coach Mike Babcock said. "Coming into the year we didn't know. They (doubters) were saying we couldn't make the playoffs. I'm not saying we are, but it sure looks like we're going in the right direction. Our young players are getting better and that's all you can ask."

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Zetterberg said they are deeper and have been more consistent "PK and goaltending have been outstanding so far," Zetterberg said. "I think the power play has gotten a little better lately. We've been doing a lot of great things, but still we can improve in a lot of areas as well." They've gotten off to slow starts in many games and have been atrocious in shootouts (1-7). "In the second half of the year hopefully we can find a way to win a few more shootouts since I'm sure we're going to be in more," Holland said. The remaining schedule is another challenge, with 22 of 40 games on the road. "Certainly the second half it's harder to get points," Holland said. "But I like where we're positioned." Here are first-half grades. They're based on performance vs. expectations (mine). Forwards Justin Abdelkader (A): He's taken a huge step, playing like a power forward with 11 goals and 23 points. He does a little of everything. Joakim Andersson (C+): Still a good penalty killer and has made significant improvement in plus-minus, but offense is non-existent (three assists). Daniel Cleary (C): Hasn't gained traction when given the opportunity to play. Will continue to have difficulty cracking lineup. Pavel Datsyuk (A): Has missed 11 games, but has excelled at both ends of the ice, averaging a point a game and looking like a Selke Trophy candidate again. Johan Franzen (C-): Got off to a good start, but once again has experienced a long stretch with little impact. He's never been a minus player but is minus-12 this season. He's out indefinitely with a head injury. Luke Glendening (B): Continues to grow as a gritty, agitating fourth-line center and penalty killer and has improved markedly on faceoffs (56 percent). Darren Helm (B): Consistency has been lacking but he's on pace for his best offensive output while shuffling back and forth from center to wing, and he's been outstanding in the faceoff circle (58 percent). Tomas Jurco (C+): Playing well without the puck but needs to cash in on chances, with just two goals in 37 games. He's out with a back injury. Drew Miller (B): Once again the team's best penalty-killing forward, provides energy and has made big improvement in plus-minus, but not chipping in as much offensively. Gustav Nyquist (A-): He's showing that last season wasn't an aberration with another productive year. Riley Sheahan (B+): Has developed rapidly enough as a two-way player that he's trusted to be the second-line center. Plays net-front role on second power-play unit.

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Tomas Tatar (A-): Like Nyquist, he's followed up a breakout season with another productive year. Just needs to cut down on turnovers. Stephen Weiss (B-): A healthy scratch early, he's made decent strides and had a good stretch when he returned from a groin injury (10 points in 10 games). Needs to play in top nine, not on the fourth line, to maximize his offensive ability. Henrik Zetterberg (A-): Bounced back nicely from back surgery that caused him to miss two months last season. Leads team with 36 points. Defensemen Danny DeKeyser (B+): He's been steady again defensively, moving the puck quickly and efficiently. Has made some improvement offensively while playing on second power-play unit. Jonathan Ericsson (C): An inconsistent first half for big defenseman who's committed too many turnovers and hasn't been sharp. Could still be dealing with issues from last season's hand injury. Jakub Kindl (C): His lack of competitiveness has made him a healthy scratch in several games and puts his future with the organization in doubt. Niklas Kronwall (B+): He remains an invaluable workhorse, doing everything for the team (offense, defense, power play, penalty kill) while leading in ice time. Brian Lashoff (B-): Injuries enabled him to play 75 games last season but has appeared in only 11 games this year as he's fallen behind Xavier Ouellet in pecking order. Xavier Ouellet (B): He looks more impressive each time he's called up. Plays with poise and confidence, makes a good first pass and doesn't make many mistakes. Kyle Quincey (B): An effective stay-at-home defender who has limited his mistakes and formed solid No. 2 pairing with DeKeyser. He's the most physical presence on a blue line that doesn't hit much. Brendan Smith (B): He's been fairly steady, but there's definitely another level to his game that hasn't been tapped yet. Goaltenders Jimmy Howard (A-): Was having a nice bounce-back season before his injury, among the league leaders with a 2.11 GAA. Only negative is his 0-6 shootout record. Jonas Gustavsson (Inc.): The oft-injured backup was stellar in a 1-0 win over Toronto but appeared in just three games before dislocating shoulder. He should return soon. Petr Mrazek (B): Gaining valuable NHL experience during infrequent appearances. Reliable when called upon and team has confidence in him. Now it appears he'll be carrying the load for a while. Coaching Mike Babcock and staff (A-): Babcock again maximizing team's ability while new assistants Jim Hiller (power play) and Tony Granato (defensemen, penalty kill) have

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made impact and goaltending coach Jim Bedard has helped Howard and Mrazek progress. Michigan Live LOADED: 01.13.2015

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Mrazek ready for opportunity to take over top spot By Chuck Pleiness, The Macomb Daily Posted: 01/12/15, 5:32 PM EST | DETROIT >> The Red Wings had a lot of success last season with the influx of Grand Rapids Griffins forwards that helped lead them to another trip to the playoffs. The team will now need to rely on a pair of goalies that were teammates for two seasons in Grand Rapids – Petr Mrazek and Tom McCollum. “He’s got to handle it,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said of Mrazek, who’ll take over the starting role for the injured Jimmy Howard. “The biggest thing is to just be calm and poised and don’t worry about what goes in, worry about the next save. To me that’s what the best goalies do.” The Wings have lost Howard for what could be a month or even longer with a slight groin tear. “We’re just going to go week-to-week and pretty soon it’ll be day-to-day,” Babcock said. “He won’t play in the All-Star Game for sure. I just know with groins it takes forever, they say it’s 10 days and three weeks later you’re talking about him.” Mrazek, who is the Wings’ goalie of the future, is 5-3-1 with a 2.29 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage this season. “It’s a great opportunity,” Mrazek said. “I’ll play hard and do my best. You have to be mentally strong. If you let in any bad goals, be mentally strong and be patient. If you’re playing every night or every three or four games, it doesn’t matter. You have to be ready.” Mrazek has played 20 career NHL games, with an 8-8-3 record. Because Jonas Gustavsson is still recovering from a shoulder injury he suffered in November, the Wings had to recall McCollum. McCollum is 10-8-1 this season with the Griffins with a 2.33 GAA and .911 save percentage in 21 games. He’s played in one NHL game, which lasted a period, allowing three goals on eight shots. “It’s great, it’s NHL shooters every day,” Babcock said. “It’s an opportunity. Tommy’s career was going and then got off the tracks and he seems to have it back on. They call it you get what you earn. It’s that simple. Your favorites are the guys who play the hardest and do the most. “He just worked at it and didn’t give in,” Babcock continued. “When things went bad for him, instead of feeling sorry for himself he worked harder and found a new way to do things. He’s been good.” McCollum has a 12.00 GAA and .625 save percentage in that one NHL appearance.

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“I think I handle adversity a lot better now,” McCollum said. “When things don’t go my way I do a lot better job of brushing it off and I think a lot of it is when things don’t go my way I still stick to my game plan and play the same way knowing that as long as I do that things will turn around eventually.” Babcock would not say if McCollum will get a start during his time in Detroit, which plays back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday. “Since that (game) that’s all I’ve really wanted was to get in another game and just kind of prove that’s not how I can play,” said McCollum, who was a first-round draft choice (30th overall) of the Wings in 2008. “I feel like I can play at this level. It wasn’t a very good display of what I can do. I really feel like I can play here. It’s just a matter of getting that opportunity. Until that time comes I’m just going to keep working and do what I do.” The Buffalo Sabres will retire Dominik Hasek’s No. 39 jersey prior to their game with the Wings, Tuesday. “He’s one of the greatest players to ever play the game,” Babcock said. “He dominated for a long time, for six years he was the best player in the league. He gave Buffalo an opportunity to win every night and was an absolute star and did it his own way. I enjoyed Dom a lot when he played for us. He was a good man.” Hasek won two Stanley Cups with Detroit. “He was for real,” Babcock said. “All the great players are really, really competitive, that’s why they’re great. It’s great to have a skill set. We have lots of kids with a skill set, you don’t know if they’re going to be great. If they don’t dig in they’re not going to be great. You got to be ultra-competitive to get yourself to the next level and he was that.” Macomb Daily LOADED: 01.13.2015

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Pat Caputo - Schedule, Jimmy Howard injury severely test Detroit Red Wings By Pat Caputo Posted: 01/12/15, 5:19 PM EST | And so this season, compared to their injury-plagued past, had been going very smoothly for the Red Wings. At their midway point last week, the Red Wings were just three points from having the highest point total in the Eastern Conference, and only five from the best mark in the entire NHL. And the teams the Red Wings trailed, Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference, and Anaheim overall, had played one more game. The only real lament was the unusual number of overtime and shootout losses suffered by Detroit. It was the only thing keeping the Red Wings from the top. Resident stars Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, who missed huge chunks of last season because of ailments, have been playing regularly and well. Tomas Tatar and Gustav Nyquist have proven to be more than one-hit wonders. Each is on pace to score roughly 30 goals. Goalie Jimmy Howard entered this season as a question mark after having his worst season in 2013-14, but he has ranked in the Top 10 in save percentage and Top Five in goals against average. Then Howard was carried off the ice at Washington Saturday night with what appeared to be a severe groin pull. He has been placed on the injured reserve list. The Red Wings have precious few home games this month (four) and during February (two). Will the Red Wings be able maintain their current pace? Can they avoid injuries? Howard isn’t the only Red Wings’ goalie out. So is backup Jonas Gustavsson. We kept hearing about how the worst-kept secret in the Red Wings’ organization is that Petr Mrazek is really their best goalie. Well, we’re about to find out, and if the Red Wings wasted their first-round draft pick when they took goalie Tom McCollum at 30th overall in 2008. The Red Wings status as a potential Stanley Cup contender is both legitimate and precarious. The NHL is a league of relentless parity. There isn’t a dominant team. Entering Monday, Tampa Bay led the Eastern Conference and Nashville the Western Conference. Recent multiple Stanley Cup champions Chicago and Los Angeles remain strong on paper, but the Kings have not played nearly as well as the Red Wings this season, and the Blackhawks only slightly better. That makes the Red Wings’ ultimate ceiling appear relatively high, at least until it is considered how many teams that could catch them from behind if they falter even for a short span. The Red Wings had to rally furiously to make the playoffs the last two seasons, and they haven’t gotten past the second round since 2009. The organization was clearly going through a transition period, but that isn’t the case any more. Younger players such as Tatar, Nyquist, Justin Abdelkader, Brendan Smith, Danny DeKeyser and Riley

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Sheahan do have experience. It’s not like the Red Wings are rushing a bunch of 20 years olds just out of juniors. The Red Wings are one of the few teams in the NHL that legitimately use their player development system to its fullest. Mrazek has thrived under pressure in the AHL playoffs at Grand Rapids. There is a veteran presence. Zetterberg, Datsyuk and very underrated veteran defenseman Niklas Kronwall have plenty left in the tank. The schedule is disconcerting, but the Red Wings have played much tighter defensively this season, and should hold up well on the road, assuming Mrazek performs reasonably well. It helps, too, the Red Wings have such a veteran presence behind the bench in Mike Babcock. It’s not like he has not been though difficult situations before, and still managed to keep his team on track. It’s been a long time since the Red Wings were able to put it on cruise control. While they have their best team since their last trip to the Stanley Cup finals in ‘09, the Red Wings still can’t afford to put it on cruise control like during the salad days. It’s a new era for the Red Wings - and a very different NHL. Macomb Daily LOADED: 01.13.2015

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Notes: Fitting that Mrazek starts on Hasek jersey ceremony night DANA WAKIJI JAN 12, 2015 5:06p ET Petr Mrazek was just six when Dominik Hasek led the Czech Republic to the gold medal at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan. It's kind of fitting that Petr Mrazek will start in goal for the Red Wings Tuesday in Buffalo, the same night the Sabres retire the number of Dominik Hasek. "I think it's a special thing for everyone in here who played with him," Mrazek told reporters in Buffalo Monday. "That was my growing-up hero. So I'm pretty excited for that." Although Mrazek was just six when Hasek led the Czech Republic to the gold medal at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan, he remembers it. "I stayed home with my dad and my mom and watched the semifinal against Canada and the final against Russia so I remember those days," Mrazek said. There still are a few Wings who remember playing with Hasek when he was in Detroit. "Getting to know him as a person and how hard he worked, I've never seen anybody like that in practice," defenseman Niklas Kronwall told reporters in Buffalo. "He wanted to stop the puck more than anything else. And even when he felt like he didn't have a good game, he'd have the younger guys come in and shoot on him on off days. "Lot of things very special about him and I'm very happy he was chosen or picked into the Hall of Fame and I think it's a privilege for us to be here when they retire his jersey." Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg was just getting started in the league and Hasek left an indelible impression on him. "He got really mad if you scored a goal on him," Zetterberg told reporters in Buffalo. "Every practice he was battling really, really hard. For me as a young player coming in and seeing that, the battle he put in at practice, that kind of helped me to go even harder. And just the character he still is. Lot of fun to have him on your team. Always happen something. Those years with Dom were not just special to me but special for everyone that played with him." Wings coach Mike Babcock said he couldn't share his favorite Hasek memory in public but he was happy to be there for the ceremony. "It's outstanding," Babcock told reporters in Buffalo. "Obviously Dom was involved in two Cups for us. He's one of the greatest players to ever play the game. He dominated for a long time, for six years he was the best player in the league. He gave Buffalo an opportunity to win every night and was an absolute star and did it his own way. I enjoyed Dom a lot when he played for us. He was a good man."

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There's a chance that there will be two Czech goaltenders playing Tuesday if the Sabres start Michal Neuvirth. "We played against each other in Detroit before Christmas and it's always nice to have on the other side someone from your country and play against him," Mrazek said. "It's pretty nice when it happens, two (Czech) goalies in the net when the jersey goes up there." MCCOLLUM BACK When the Wings placed Jimmy Howard on injured reserve Sunday, they recalled Thomas McCollum from the Grand Rapids (AHL) Griffins. Although Babcock wouldn't say whether McCollum would get an opportunity to play, it does give McCollum a chance to practice with the Wings. "It's great. It's NHL shooters every day," Babcock said. "It's an opportunity. Tommy's career was going and then got off the tracks and he seems to have it back on now and good for him. They all get what they earn. It's that simple. Your favorites are the guys who play the hardest and do the most." Last season McCollum was 24-12-4-2 with a 2.30 goals-against average, an average good enough for fourth in the AHL, and a .922 save percentage. It was a good bounce-back from a couple of seasons ago when he was 11-16-0-0 with 3.49 goals-against average and .891 save percentage. "Just more of my mental outlook," McCollum told reporters in Buffalo. "I think I handle adversity a lot better now. When things don't go my way I do a lot better job of brushing it off and I think a lot of it is when things don't go my way I still stick to my game plan and play the same way knowing that as long as I do that things will turn around eventually." McCollum played in one game in the 2010-11 season, giving up three goals on eight shots to the St. Louis Blues. "Definitely since that day that's all I really wanted was to get in another game and just kind of prove that's not how I can play," McCollum said. "I feel like I can play at this level. It wasn't a very good display of what I can do." McCollum is an Amherst, New York native, so he remembers going to Sabres games with his parents. McCollum was excited to be able to see the Hasek jersey retirement ceremony. "That's really cool for myself," McCollum said. "I grew up watching him play every game. I grew up watching him play in this building. That's definitely exciting to be here for it." As a goalie, McCollum said he tried to emulate Hasek. "I think about three or four practices then I realized it wasn't going to work," McCollum said with a laugh. "It was unbelievable. You always wondered how he made saves. It seems like at times he just guessed right but then the more you watched him you saw he studied the game

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so well and he was that good at reading plays that he knew what guys were going to do before they did it. He's just really a pioneer." NO UPDATE YET ON HOWARD Howard, who underwent an MRI Sunday which revealed a slight tear in his groin, had an ultrasound Monday. "He won't play in the All-Star Game for sure," Babcock said. "I just know with groins it takes forever, they say it's 10 days and three weeks later you're talking about him." The Wings say they won't play any differently with Mrazek the main man in net as opposed to Howard. "I think every time Petr's been playing he's been playing really good," Zetterberg said. "He plays with confidence. He plays the puck. Obviously we want to get Howie back as soon as possible but Petr will do his job." With Jonas Gustavsson still healing from a dislocated left shoulder that he suffered in New York Nov. 5, the burden falls on Mrazek. "He's got to handle it," Babcock said. "The biggest thing is to just be calm and poised and don't worry about what goes in, worry about the next save. To me that's what the best goalies do." Mrazek knows he now has an extended period to show his capabilities. "It's a great opportunity. I'll play hard and do my best," Mrazek said. "You have to be mentally strong anyways. If you let in any bad goals, be mentally strong and be patient. If you're playing every night or every three or four games, it doesn't matter. You have to be ready." foxsports.com LOADED: 01.13.2015

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Tom McCollum eager for another opportunity to prove himself with Red Wings but will he get it?

By Brendan Savage / MLive.com

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Tom McCollum has spent almost four years patiently waiting for another opportunity in an NHL game.

Whether is comes anytime soon is a question that has yet to be answered.

But at least the former first-round draft pick has a chance after being recalled by the Detroit Red Wings this week with fellow goaltenders Jimmy Howard (groin) and Jonas Gustavsson (shoulder) both sidelined by injuries.

McCollum will back up Petr Mrazek tonight against the Buffalo Sabres and will almost certainly stay with the Red Wings until either Howard or Gustavsson are ready to play. When that will be is yet another question mark.

But McCollum is itching to get another chance after struggling during his only NHL appearance, when he allowed three goals on eight shots in less than 15 minutes of action during a 10-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues back on March 30, 2011.

McCollum relieved Joey MacDonald early in the second period with the Red Wings trailing 5-2 but MacDonald went back between the pipes to start the third, when Detroit was down 8-3.

"Definitely since that day that's all I really wanted,"said McCollum, 25. "To get in another game and just kind of prove that's not how I can play. I feel like I can play at this level. It wasn't a very good display of what I can do."

The Red Wings selected McCollum with the 30th overall pick in the 2008 NHL draft and he was largely a disappointment during his first four pro seasons.

He split the first three years of his pro career between Grand Rapids of the AHL and Toledo of the ECHL before spending all of 2011-12 with the Griffins. But his 11-16 record, 3.49 goals-against average and .891 save percentage that season did nothing to instill confidence in the Red Wings brass.

McCollum reached a crossroads in 2012-13, which was perhaps the most important season of his career to date.

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He enjoyed a solid campaign as Mrazek's backup, helping the Griffins win the Calder Cup as AHL champions before breaking out last season with a 24-12-2 record, 2.30 GAA and .922 save percentage.

The thought of getting another shot in the NHL is what has driven McCollum the past four years.

"Yeah, it definitely helps," he said. "I really feel like I can play here. It's just a matter of getting that opportunity. Until that time comes, I'm just going to keep working and do what I do.

"I'm just excited to be up here. I have no idea how long it's going to be but I'm looking forward to working hard in practice every day and doing the best I can."

McCollum has been recalled the Red Wings a couple of times since making his NHL debut - the most recent instance was last month - but he's watched from the bench as an emergency backup.

Only coach Mike Babcock knows if McCollum will get another shot in the Red Wings' net with four games scheduled for the next six days but Babcock wasn't tipping his hand after practice Monday.

Babcock said he wasn't looking past the Sabres and Mrazek's eighth start of the season for the Red Wings. But he did admit this is a good opportunity for McCollum.

"It's great," Babcock said. "It's NHL shooters every day. It's an opportunity. Tommy's career was going and then got off the tracks and he seems to have it back on now and good for him.

"They get what they earn. It's that simple. Your favorites are the guys who play the hardest and do the most."

Mrazek has spent much of this season with the Red Wings after Gustavsson dislocated his shoulder Nov. 5 in New York. He has played in just six games in Grand Rapids, where McCollum has gotten the bulk of the playing time in Mrazek's absence.

McCollum is having another solid season with a 10-8-3 record, 2.33 GAA and .911 save percentage. He credited his teammates for his success.

"The team has been playing very well down in Grand Rapids," McCollum said. "It's made it very easy on myself. They do a very good job of letting us see a lot of pucks and clearing away a lot of rebounds.

"It makes the game a lot easier and we have a great 'D' that communicates with us, too, so that when we come out and handle the puck things usually go smoother."

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McCollum, who grew up in the Buffalo suburb of Cambria and was a Sabres fan as a kid, credited his turnaround to taking a different mental approach.

He said he's more relaxed now, doesn't dwell on poor games and no longer feels the need to live up to being a first-round draft pick.

"There's expectations that come with that and sometimes if you think of that it can get to you," he said. "It definitely didn't help my first few years. Now it doesn't really bother me. I think I handle adversity a lot better now.

"When things don't go my way, I do a lot better job of brushing it off and I think a lot of it is when things don't go my way I still stick to my game plan and play the same way knowing that as long as I do that things will turn around eventually."

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