Ducks Lose Mrazek to Injury in Loss to Blackhawks
The Anaheim Ducks took more than just a loss on the scoreboard Sunday night-they also lost veteran goaltender Petr Mrazek to a lower-body injury midway through the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The injury occurred during a chaotic sequence in the Ducks’ defensive zone. A point shot from the Blackhawks missed the net, triggering a scramble in front of the crease.
Mrazek, clearly in discomfort, struggled to get up after the play and ultimately had to leave the game. Ville Husso came in as relief for the final stretch.
Before exiting, Mrazek had stopped 13 of 16 shots, allowing three goals in just under 49 minutes of action. The Ducks would go on to drop the game 5-3, continuing a tough stretch in which they’ve now lost six of their last ten.
For Anaheim, the concern now shifts to Mrazek’s health. He’s had groin issues in the past, and while nothing has been confirmed, the visible discomfort and the nature of the injury raise some alarms.
This season, Mrazek has posted a 3-3-0 record with an .876 save percentage and a 3.69 goals-against average over seven appearances. Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but they don’t tell the full story either. Anaheim’s defensive structure has been inconsistent, and Mrazek has often been tasked with weathering high-danger chances.
Now in his 14th NHL season, Mrazek has carved out a career defined by resilience and adaptability. He’s suited up for six different NHL teams-including the Ducks, Blackhawks, Flyers, Red Wings, Hurricanes, and Maple Leafs-amassing a 183-179-40 record, a .905 save percentage, and a 2.86 goals-against average over 435 games.
He’s also no stranger to the postseason, having appeared in 29 playoff games with a .911 save percentage and a 2.43 GAA. And before he was a mainstay in the NHL, Mrazek made his mark in the AHL, going 55-28-4 with a .920 SV% and 2.23 GAA. He backstopped the Grand Rapids Griffins to a Calder Cup title in 2013-a key moment in his early career.
Originally drafted in the fifth round by the Detroit Red Wings back in 2010, Mrazek honed his game in the Ontario Hockey League, where he put up a 75-37-10 record with a .916 SV% and 2.87 GAA over 132 games.
For now, the Ducks will wait for further updates on Mrazek’s status. If he’s forced to miss time, Anaheim will likely lean more heavily on Husso and potentially explore reinforcements from their AHL affiliate. Either way, losing a veteran presence like Mrazek-both in the crease and in the locker room-is a blow for a team trying to find consistency in a competitive Western Conference.