Jimmy Howard was in the starter’s crease on Monday, but it looks like Mrazek will start his first game of the season tonight in Dallas. This seems like a weird time to give Mrazek a start considering Howard has been playing great and they have a back-to-back on Thursday/Friday. The 25-year-old is coming off of a tough season, particularly on the road, where he went 9-11-4 with a 3.15 GAA and .901 SV%.
Granlund was apparently playing through an injury in the season opener in Detroit, where he was held off of the scoresheet. The Finnish playmaker will likely be held out of the lineup Saturday in Carolina, so look for Gustav Olofsson to draw into the lineup as a seventh defenseman.
Poehling is a rangey player, standing in at 6-foot-2, but needs to add bulk to that frame. Poehling posted seven goals and six assists (13 points) in 35 games in his first season with St. Cloud State.
Mrazek allowed three goals on 42 shots in the Red Wings’ overtime win in Carolina on Monday. Mrazek has gone 1-1-1 while turning aside 97 of 104 shots (.933 SV%). Tonight he makes his fifth appearance against the Lightning—he has gone 0-3-1 with a 3.89 GAA and .865 SV% in the first four games vs. Tampa Bay.
Vatrano played just 9:25 TOI and 8:00 TOI in his last two games and is reportedly dealing with an upper-body injury. Vatrano is day-to-day and will be replaced by Matt Beleskey in the lineup vs. the Stars.
Mrazek gave up two goals on 32 shots in the Red Wings’ overtime loss to the Lightning on Friday. The Red Wings goalie rotation will continue with Mrazek going tonight in Carolina. He has lost his last two starts despite stopping 58 of 62 shots (.935 SV%). He made 29 saves in a 4-2 win in his first start vs. the Hurricanes.
