Blackhawks Announce Surprise Starting Goaltender And Revenge Looms In Game vs Hurricanes
The Chicago Blackhawks take on Rod Brind'Amour's Carolina Hurricanes tonight, as the team has an ace up their sleeve in Petr Mrazek.
Mrazek will start in the net for the Blackhawks against his former team, the Carolina Hurricanes.
The team traded the veteran goalie to the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2021 season, and he hasn't looked back.
He only played 20 games in Toronto and eventually landed in Chicago as a part of a deal that sent a 2022 2nd-round pick in return for Mrazek.
In sacrificing its first-round choice, Toronto unloaded the final two seasons of Mrazek's contract and retained none of the $3.8 million per year cap hit. The backup goalie is coming off an injury-plagued campaign where he went 12-6-0 with an .888 SV% and 3.34 GAA. Mrazek was eventually sidelined late in the regular season by a groin injury that would also keep him out of Toronto's first-round playoff run.
Tonight, Mrazek should have laser focus as he faces his former club, the team that parted ways with him unexpectedly.
The veteran goalie has struggled since returning to the crease managing a nagging groin injury in December.
But his focal point for tonight should be revenge.
This season has been a down year for Mrazek and he could use a win against his former club as a stepping stone to improve his record.
Last season he played 56 games as the Hawks' starting goalie and proved himself capable of backstopping a rebuilding team. He held a record of 56 games played with an 18-31-4 record, 3.03 GAA, and a .908 save percentage.
Mrazek's played a total of 27 games with the Blackhawks, with a 9-16-1 record, 3.24 GAA, and a .894 save percentage.
| POLL |
5 HOURS AGO | 34 ANSWERS Blackhawks Announce Surprise Starting Goaltender And Revenge Looms In Game vs Hurricanes Will goalie Petr Mrazek get the Chicago Blackhawks in the win column? |
|
|
|
21 minutes ago | By Sam Walker Chicago Blackhawks announce hiring of new longtime NHL general manager Chris O'Hearn, Davidson out? |
|
1 hour ago | By Sam Walker Connor McDavid, Tyler Myers learn their fate from NHL player safety following cross-checks in Saturday's game |
|
3 hours ago | By Joshua Deeds Legendary NHL Head Coach, Scout For Over 30 Years Dies at 89 |
|
4 hours ago | By Joshua Deeds Trade Proposal: Blackhawks' Seth Jones traded to the New York Rangers |
|
8 hours ago | By Jim Precourt Blackhawks must remove $22M forward off of trade block, for Connor Bedard |
|
11 hours ago | By Joshua Deeds Hockey world mourns passing of Canadiens, Red Wings, four-time Stanley Cup Champion Marcel Bonin |
|
23 hours ago | By Joshua Deeds 3 Potential Trade Destinations for Blackhawks' Defenseman Seth Jones |
|
Jan 19 | By Sam Walker Major report sees Bruins Brad Marchand heading to Chicago to play with Blackhawks Bedard |
Previously on HawksInsider
