BUFFALO, N.Y. - Jeff Blashill isn't ready to anoint Petr Mrazek as the Detroit Red Wings' No. 1 goaltender.

And Mrazek certainly isn't going to be brash enough to say he deserves the job.

But it's become more and more apparent Mrazek is establishing himself as the Red Wings top netminder after platooning with veteran Jimmy Howard to start the season.

Mrazek was outstanding Saturday, when he made 32 saves as the Red Wings snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center.

He's played in seven straight games - starting five while relieving Howard in two others - and the streak could grow if he gets the nod Monday, when the Red Wings visit the New Jersey Devils.

Blashill hasn't ruled out starting Mrazek for the third straight game.

"We look at things day to day so I'll (decide in) Jersey who is going to start there but what Petr did tonight was to make a big save at a big moment to insure the win," said Blashill, a former goalie himself. "That's something he's done throughout his career. That's something I think he's real good at.

"He's played pretty good hockey overall so we'll continue to evaluate."

The big save Blashill refered to came with 1:24 left after Tomas Tatar scored to give the Red Wings a 4-3 lead. Mrazek stoned Zach Bogosian on a breakaway to preserve the lead and get 2016 started on a winning note.

"He saved us tonight," said captain Henrik Zetterberg, who gave Detroit a 3-2 lead at 2:27 of the third to end a six-game goal drought. "In the third period, there were some key moments and he had some big saves and not a lot of rebounds coming off him, either.

"That makes it easier for us to play defense."

Mrazek's numbers are superior to Howard's in virtually every area.

He has a 12-8-3 record to Howard's 7-5-4, a 2.35 GAA to Howard's 2.66 and a .924 save percentage to Howard's .910. Both have one shutout.

Mrazek also hasn't been pulled from a game yet this season while Howard has failed to finish three starts. One came Nov. 8 in Dallas, when Howard was kneed in the head by the Stars' Jason Spezza during a goalmouth scramble and the other two games he failed to finish were in his most recent starts.

Howard lasted less than 15 minutes Dec. 22 after allowing three goals on six shots against New Jersey and he was yanked midway through the second period Tuesday after the Winnipeg Jets tagged him for four goals on 14 shots.

So what does Mrazek, who finished last season as the No. 1 goalie after Howard was benched for the playoffs, think about reclaiming the top job?

"I don't want to talk about it," he said. "The season is long, have lots of games left.

"I'm trying to work hard on the ice every day, just be big in the net and try to make some saves."

The save against Bogosian has to rank among his biggest stops this season since it helped preserve the lead in a game the Red Wings desperately wanted to win.

Not only had they lost three straight to end the 2015 portion of their schedule, the win over Buffalo kicked off a six-game road stretch that won't end until they play the Arizona Coyotes Jan. 14.

"Again, he's got an ability to seize the moment," Blashill said. "That's one thing he's done real good. Not that Jimmy doesn't. Jimmy does as well but Petr has done it well throughout his career.

"You don't want to give up the breakaway there obviously at the end to Bogosian but he made the big save on it."

Turning aside Bogosian helped send the Red Wings (19-13-7) to New Jersey in the right frame of mind and eased the sting of blowing a third-period lead for the 12th time this season and third in as many games vs. Buffalo.

There's no telling what a loss might have done to the Red Wings' psyche had Bogosian scored and the Sabres ended up winning in overtime or a shootout.

"For sure that would be a little bit unsettling to lose the lead again, especially that close to the end," said Tatar, who scored the winner with 2:50 left. "He made a nice save. That guy actually came in there flying and Petr was ready for it.

"Good two points and now we have to focus on the next game."

Mrazek has been something of a slump-breaker for the Red Wings this season. He hasn't lost in regulation during back-to-back appearances since the first two weeks of the season while Howard has an 0-1-3 record in his last five outings.

"We're confident when he's in there," said Riley Sheahan, who had a goal and assist. "He makes big saves when we need him to. He's been great for us and we're definitely comfortable when he's in the net."

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