2010 NHL Playoffs: Jimmy Howard Must Anchor Detroit Red Wings

If the NHL postseason success is built around one thing, it's solid, consistent goaltending.

Much like a pitcher in October, a net minder can dictate the flow of crucial games. 

Well, it's not October, and Jimmy Howard doesn't pitch for the Detroit Tigers — he's the man between the pipes for the Red Wings.

And Howard will have to buck up if he has designs of avenging Detroit's 4-3 loss in Game One.

The Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) product has won 37 games this season and has shown flashes of brilliance. 

There are always two sides to every coin, and Howard's other side is blemished with inconsistency and mediocrity.

But he does have an upside—he showed maturity and grit the way he handled himself in Phoenix on Tuesday night in the Wings' 6-1 Game Seven triumph over the Coyotes.

The Sharks aren't the Coyotes.

Will he continue to be rattled by a high-flying Patrick Marleau-less Shark offense for the remainder of round two?

San Jose's Joe Pavelski scored what would end up being the game-winning power play goal in the third period. Red Wings fans have to keep their fingers crossed that the young center doesn't heat up.

He's already scored seven goals in the postseason.

Don't let him get primed. He is emerging in the absence of Marleau, heading the San Jose scoring attack with a full head of steam.

If anything can be taken from the series opener loss; it's that old cliche that seems to stir about this time of year, every year: take it one game at a time.

That's what Howard and the Wings will be forced to do.

That's a given.

The Wings will not win with the sluggish play that they exhibited in the early goings of Thursday night's game.

Nor will they win if Howard doesn't tighten up his mental approach.

That term is used in the broad sense, but it boils down to playing smart.

Again, another cliche. But cliches are overused for a reason—they're true.

One of Howard's weaknesses has been giving up the long rebound. San Jose capitalized off of them. Too many of those, and it will be a (short) long series for the Hockeytown goalie.

Game Two will be Detroit's chance to square up and come back next Tuesday tied at one game a piece. Once at the Joe, the series becomes a new story.