Red Wings: Jimmy Howard continues to struggle with Bernier injured
By Tyler Kotila
With Jonathan Bernier being out injured, the Detroit Red Wings hand the reins back over to Jimmy Howard as the goaltender for a couple of games. Essentially, if the Red Wings even want to sniff out a win, they need to score at least five goals.
It is no shocker that Jimmy Howard and Jonathan Bernier are one of the worst goaltending tandems in the league. The Detroit Red Wings are the worst team in hockey, and Howard is essentially a piece of swiss cheese in the net.
Detroit’s fourteen-year veteran has been awful this year after being a staple of the Red Wings goaltending. An injury has limited Howard’s season and allowed Bernier to earn himself some trading stock as a backup goaltender. The Red Wings have been winning a game here and there recently, but with Howard back in net, it was an 8-2 rout by the New York Islanders.
On the season, Howard has a 2-16-1 record in 19 starts with a 4.26 goals-against average and .876 save percentage. Since the 2020 calendar year has begun, Howard has made three starts, all resulting in losses.
More from Detroit Jock City
- Tigers Sign Manager A.J. Hinch to Long-Term Extension
- Lions vs. Bears Week 14 Opening Odds Disrespect Detroit
- Former Tigers Celebrate Jim Leyland Hall of Fame Call
- This Pistons Team Could be the Worst in Detroit Sports History
- 4 Free Agents Tigers Should Sign During Winter Meetings
The first was a three-goal loss with twenty-three saves against the Chicago Blackhawks. Following the game, Howard would allow five goals, making twenty-two saves in a loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Most recently, Howard would allow three goals in just under eight minutes against the Islanders before he was pulled for Calvin Pickard.
It is hard to watch Howard going out there and giving up at least a three-spot or worse every time he is in net.
The Red Wings have not won a game that Howard has been in net for since October 29th, 2019. In his last ten starts, Howard has allowed three goals or more in all but one game. With Bernier hurt, this almost solidifies that the Red Wings will not be winning a game with Howard in net anytime soon. Bernier is slated to be out for about a week, which means that Howard will suit up for three games.
Tonight, the Wings will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins, who just got the services of Sidney Crosby back. Following this game, the red-hot Florida Panthers come to town, and their offense has been scoring left and right. Better yet, Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche come to town in a week as well.
Trending. Three Players To Move At The Trade Deadline. light
Even if the Wings opt to start Pickard, it looks like three brutal losses ahead until Bernier returns, giving the Red Wings a better chance to steal a game here and there.