Petr Mrazek 12-20-16

The Red Wings' Petr Mrazek has lacked consistency this season, posting a 3.11 GAA and .896 save percentage.

(The Associated Press)

DETROIT - January of 2016 was an amazing month for Petr Mrazek.

For a brief time, the Detroit Red Wings goaltender led the NHL in goals-against average and save percentage. He went 7-1-1, with a 1.32 goals-against average and .952 save percentage.

He wasn't going to sustain that level, but it reaffirmed his special talent. The Red Wings appeared set in net for years to come.

What has happened since to Mrazek is puzzling.

It began on his 24th birthday, a 6-5 victory over Boston on Feb. 14. Since then, Mrazek is 15-14-4, with a 3.24 GAA, .892 save percentage and no shutouts in 37 appearances.

He lost his starting job to Jimmy Howard late last season. He regained it in the playoffs against Tampa Bay (1.36 GAA, .945 save percentage, one shutout in three games) and appeared to have righted the ship. He signed a two-year, $8 million contract in the summer and entered the season as the unquestioned starter.

But, he's been inconsistent (9-8-3, 3.11 GAA, .896 save percentage), outplayed by a wide margin by Howard (5-7-1, 1.94 GAA, .934 save percent), who has received about half the offensive support.

The Red Wings replaced long-time goaltending coach Jim Bedard with Jeff Salajko, who had a good relationship with Mrazek in Grand Rapids. But, while Howard has flourished, Mrazek continues to regress.

Howard (sprained MCL) is out at least another month. The Red Wings have struggled offensively (2.38 goals per game) and are fighting an uphill battle to stay in playoff contention. They need Mrazek to play like he is capable, but he has allowed three or more goals in his past six appearances.

"This is a league that at different times you're going to have adversity and things aren't going to go your way and there are two things that can help you get through it - work ethic, on and off the ice, and attitude," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said Monday. "As long as you have a good attitude when you come to work every day and you work at your craft and you compete hard, that's the only way you're going to dig out of it."

Perhaps Mrazek's attitude could be better. Following Howard's injury Dec. 20 in Tampa Bay, Jared Coreau was recalled from Grand Rapids and coach Jeff Blashill started him in Florida on Dec. 23.

Mrazek was upset. The back-up goalie typically stays on the ice after practice, getting extra work and giving injured players someone to shoot on. Mrazek left the ice after practice at BB&T Center and refused to return after being confronted by one of his teammates.

Is he becoming difficult to coach? Holland doesn't think so. He chalked it up to a young goalie facing adversity for the first time in his career and not handling it well.

"This is probably the first time, maybe in Petr Mrazek's career, where he's gone through adversity like he's going through right now," Holland said. "He's obviously being challenged by the league. We know he's good, we've seen it. He's played at a high, high level. We know he can do it. We're trying to be as patient as we can for him to find his game."

The Red Wings were off Monday, traveling to Anaheim for a three-game trip to California that starts Wednesday, so Mrazek wasn't available for comment. But he said on Friday that he hasn't lost confidence.

"Just play my way, the way I used to play," Mrazek said. "I wouldn't change anything. ... When I play, I feel way better than I feel last year."

After Coreau won in Florida, the Red Wings gave Mrazek another chance Dec. 27 against Buffalo. He allowed four goals on 22 shots in a 4-3 loss. Some of that was due to defensive play, but Mrazek allowed a soft goal - it's happened too often this season - and didn't make the timely save with the game on the line.

The Red Wings need points and have to play the goalie they believe gives them the best chance to win, so it was telling that Blashill started Coreau, with three NHL appearances, on the big stage Sunday at the Centennial Classic.

"I thought Jared played real good in Ottawa (3-2 shootout win Thursday)," Blashill said after the game. "I thought it was the best game that he had played of the three, and so I thought it was the right move to put him in."

The Red Wings like the 6-foot-6 Coreau's potential, and he is certain to be on the roster at the start of next season, when he's no longer waiver exempt. But his NHL experience is limited.

The Red Wings have a lot of issues. The power play is brutal (league-worst 11.7 percent). Too many players are underachieving - Gustav Nyquist has one goal in 31 games and four for the season. Tomas Tatar has just eight goals. Riley Sheahan has no goals in 36 games. Danny DeKeyser has taken a step back after signing a six-year, $30 million contract.

Blashill hasn't maximized many players' abilities.

It's not all on Mrazek. But if he can return to the form he showed his first 80 NHL games, it would cover a lot of the team's deficiencies. And no better time to start than this month, with time running out.