Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press

PHILADELPHIA -- Petr Mrazek feels calmer. As does Jimmy Howard.

One of the better stories to emerge from the opening month for the Detroit Red Wings has been their goaltending, which overall had been strong through 11 games. Mrazek saw 40 shots in Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime loss at Wells Fargo Center, making several big saves as the Flyers especially in the second and third periods.

Mrazek and Howard both cite the influence of new goaltending coach Jeff Salajko, who was promoted this summer after serving in the same role with the organization's farm teams.

“With Sal, he help me so much during the couple of months so far,” Mrazek said this morning. “I feel really, really well in the net and I feel more calm -- don’t go out too much, stay in the blue paint and still can make the saves as I did if I was so much out. So he has helped me so much.

“I’m really happy he’s here. I can see the difference in net from now and last year.”

Mrazek’s history with Salajko dates to their days in Grand Rapids, and it was Mrazek’s ascension to the starting job that played into why the Wings changed goalie coaches after nearly two decades with Jim Bedard. Salajko’s credentials include having guided prospect Jared Coreau from one win in his first pro year to 29 last season. The Wings see Coreau being in the NHL within a season.

Just as gratifying for the organization has been Salajko’s impact on Howard. After a great deal of turmoil following a groin injury in January 2014 -- including a long victory drought last season -- Howard has started this season 2-1 with a .973 save percentage and 0.86 goals-against average.

Howard said Salajko has “done a good job reintroducing different techniques out there, and me not having to be as aggressive out there.”

In summing up Salajko’s strengths, Wings head coach Jeff Blashill first laughed and noted Salajko’s dapper suits: “He’s a very good dresser, and his hair adds to our staff, for sure.”

He then turned serious.

“He’s got a good ability to teach habits through repetitive drills and he’s got a good ability to develop relationships, and it’s those two combined that have made him a real good coach.

“Jimmy Bedard was a great coach on this staff for a long, long time. But Jeff Salajko has done a real good job with those guys. First and foremost, those guys have approached this season where they just want to get better, they want to continue to improve, and that’s what we’re looking for from all our guys. And then you combine that with a coach who has done a good job with them, and their play has been good so far. They've both done a good job of managing the depth and letting the game come to them.”

It has helped both goalies that there has been none of the ambiguity of last season, when Mrazek and Howard split duties for the first couple of months. Howard has adjusted to being the backup, which, in today’s NHL, is still likely to grant 30-odd starts, especially with the compact schedule this season.

The importance of depth in goal hardly can be overstated; the Montreal Canadiens showed that last season, when they failed to make the playoffs after losing starter Carey Price. It’s early, but it’s an area in which, so far, the Wings have looked strong.

Detroit Red Wings' Blashill has 'similar beliefs' to new goalie coach

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Check out our Red Wings Xtra app on Apple and Android!