The Red Wings make goaltending decision for crucial matchup.

The Detroit Red Wings are in the middle of a playoff race, but they will have to do without their starting goaltender for at least one more game.

Red Wings' starting goaltender Petr Mrazek remains under the weather with the flu, meaning that Jimmy Howard will once again get the start on Saturday against the Florida Panthers.

It will be Howard's second straight start. Howard stopped 27 of 28 shots in a win over the Blue Jackets on Thursday night.

“The guys played a tremendous game in front of me all night long,” Howard said after the win over Columbus, per the Detroit News. “They battled hard in front and didn’t allow them to establish net presence and made my night relatively easy."

Howard hasn't seen a ton of work this season, but is happy he can contribute at this crucial point in the season.

“You cherish these moments (in a playoff race) when you’re a player and competitor. You just want to go out there and play. Everyone in here just needed to take a deep breath and relax and get back to paying attention to details.”

The Red Wings currently own the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, but they’re only one point ahead of the Flyers.

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