NHL scores 2015: Petr Mrazek pitches hist 1st shutout of the season over Washington

The young netminder is making a case for Detroit’s starting job.

Nov 11, 2015, 1:00 PM UTC

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

If Alex Ovechkin puts up 15 shots on you in a night, most of the time you're letting in at least one of those. Detroit Red Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek, on the other hand, scoffs in the face of your narratives. The young Czech pulled out a 38-save shutout performance against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night.

Fun fact: This is Petr Mrazek's first full NHL season. Tonight was his 6th career NHL shutout.
— Kyle (@KyleWIIM) November 11, 2015

Mrazek rightly deserves his first shutout of the year -- and sixth shutout of his career -- after Tuesday's game. In a 1-0 contest that wasn't decided until four minutes into the final period, Mrazek shut the door on every single Caps opportunity, capped by a 17-save third period.

Ovechkin's 15 shots made up almost 40 percent of Washington's shots on goal Tuesday night, an incredible feat in itself. The fact that Mrazek was there to stop every single shot in calm, collected fashion from the league's sixth-leading scorer is certainly a statement from the young netminder fighting with veteran Jimmy Howard for time in the crease.

Mrazek rounds out the NHL's top 10 goaltenders in save percentage with .938 with an equally impressive 2.07 goals against. He's been strong in nine games played so far, winning his prior two starts with just four combined goals allowed on 69 shots.

Petr Mrazek's 38 saves are the most by a #RedWings goalie in a 1-0 shutout since Manny Legace also had 38 in a win over CBJ on Nov. 21, 2001
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) November 11, 2015

The Red Wings haven't had the best start to the 2015-16 season, but with strong play by both Howard and youngster Mrazek, Detroit has stayed in the top half of the Atlantic Division.

Scores

St. Louis Blues 2, New Jersey Devils 0

New York Rangers 3, Carolina Hurricanes 0

Colorado Avalanche 4, Philadelphia Flyers 0

Vancouver Canucks 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 3

Detroit Red Wings 1, Washington Capitals 0

Buffalo Sabres 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 1

Florida Panthers 4, Calgary Flames 3

Nashville Predators 7, Ottawa Senators 5

Minnesota Wild 5, Winnipeg Jets 3

Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Dallas Stars 2

Arizona Coyotes 3, Los Angeles Kings 2

New York Islanders 4, San Jose Sharks 2

3 things we learned

1. Sens + Preds = Barn Burner?

A Tuesday night matchup between two non-conference teams doesn't seem like it'd be entertaining television, but boy was this one a firecracker. The Senators and Predators put up a combined 12 goals in the game, and neither team pulled their goalie. Nashville came away with a Hockey Touchdown and 11 different players pocketed goals in an entertaining game for both sides, though a slightly disconcerting one for letting in more than five goals each. The loss for the Senators is particularly painful, as it allowed the Red Wings to slide above them for second place in the Atlantic.

2. Dallas is not unflappable and can lose to bad teams!

Even the high-flying Dallas Stars are not immune to losing to bad teams. Two third period goals by the Maple Leafs allowed Toronto to come away with a hard-fought win on the road, stopping the Stars' three-game winning streak in its tracks. Toronto was clearly the better team, capitalizing on their only power play of the evening for their first goal and pouncing on the Stars' mistakes. The win is just Toronto's third of the year, snapping a three-game losing streak in the middle of a tough road trip that started with the Capitals on Saturday and will end with the Predators on Thursday.

3. Philadelphia is unstable and a very bad team!

Things have gone from bad to worse in Flyers land, with Philadelphia losing their seventh in eight games in a 4-0 shutout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night. Normally solid backup goaltender Michal Neuvirth let in all four goals in the lifeless defeat for the Flyers, who keep spiraling after an abnormally optimistic start to the year. The Flyers even called their second team meeting of the season after the loss to try to stop the bleeding. First year head coach Dave Hakstol needs to find a spark somewhere on the team to save the season before it's too late to climb back.

Impact Moment

Detroit seemingly scored on Braden Holtby, but the goal was whistled dead and then called inconclusive by the refs on the ice. The puck did look like it crossed the line. Holtby was seen sweeping the puck out of the net.

You literally see Holtby scoop it, and throw it out of the net, but, okay. Whatever, I guess? pic.twitter.com/hmmuk0OUe8
— Kyle (@KyleWIIM) November 11, 2015

Rookie of the Night

Red Wings rookie Andreas Athanasiou got his first NHL goal in just his second ever game -- AND it was the game winner for Detroit in its 1-0 shutout win. Enjoy it, kid!