Petr Mrazek is on the mend from an illness that prevented him from dressing over the weekend, but Jimmy Howard will make his third straight start for the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday regardless.

Howard wasn't brilliant Saturday in Florida, but followed that up with a strong effort in a mid-week win over Columbus to earn two important points, and will have an opportunity to anchor a third-straight victory when the Red Wings visit Tampa Bay.

Mrazek earned, and has since protected, his No. 1 role from the veteran netminder with significantly superior performances over the last 14 months. But he's wobbled at a most inopportune time, sporting a .901 save percentage through six March starts.

Detroit is three points up on the Philadelphia Flyers for the final wild card seed in the East.

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