Jimmy Howard Leaves Game With Possible Injury

Dec 16, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Ryan Johansen (19) scores a shootout goal on Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard (35) at Joe Louis Arena. Columbus won 1-0 in an overtime shootout. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard could, once again, be injured

As both a goaltender aficionado and a goalie myself, I hate nothing more than seeing a really excellent goaltender fail to stay healthy.

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This season, the biggest issue in net has been in Colorado — starter Semyon Varlamov has spent more time out than in this year with recurring long-term injuries, and the team is suffering for it.

The Detroit Red Wings are more than familiar with this tale; on a team with a revolving door in and out of the lineup due to injuries, Jimmy Howard only made fifty-one starts due to a laundry list of injuries and nagging issues. He started off the season with a 48-hour injured reserve placement — and now, he’s being yanked once again for lower body concerns.

On Friday night, Howard was pulled against the New York Islanders in favor of Petr Mrazek as a ‘precaution’; according to NBC’s Pro Hockey Talk, the starter is apparently suffering from a potential lower-body injury.

For Red Wings fans, this is nothing new — but with a .922 SV% on the season so far, it’s not hard to conclude that the team was hoping for some health-related consistency out of the thirty year old netminder this year. Could be why they pulled him at the first sign of something wrong; but if he’s already showing signs of distress, it’s only a matter of time before something truly goes wrong.

Although it’s undoubtedly a concern for the Wings, though, one has to applaud the team’s diligence in ensuring player health — particularly in light of recent events regarding playing through serious injuries, it might be better to play the ‘safety over sorrow’ card this winter.

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