Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back.
▲ Petr Mrazek
It's been a bounce-back week for the Detroit Red Wings netminder, who made three straight starts since Feb. 3. Mrazek went undefeated in regulation over that stretch, owning a 2-0-1 record alongside a .933 save percentage.
It's a stark difference from what's been a difficult season for the 24-year-old. He grabbed the top job in Detroit a year ago en route to 54 nights in the crease, but the Czech goaltender has struggled in his third full campaign with the Winged Wheel.
Through 31 games this season, Mrazek's save rate has dipped to .899, while his 3.07 goals-against average needs improvement. That's led to greater workloads for Jimmy Howard and Jared Coreau. In the meantime, the second week in February was an encouraging one for Mrazek.
▼ Peter Budaj
It's not often you sit tied for first in shutouts only to be recognized in the trending down category. But that's the case with the Los Angeles Kings and Budaj.
The veteran goaltender has done an admirable job filling in for Kings starter Jonathan Quick, coming away with a 25-16-3 record through 47 games this season. Not bad for a netminder who found himself on the waiver wire following a poor training camp.
But after recording three shutouts in four games ending Feb. 4, Budaj followed up that performance with a pair of ugly nights against the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning. In those two matches, Budaj stopped just 27 of the 36 pucks that came his way, while his GAA reached 5.44.
▲ Cory Schneider
This is the Schneider that we remember. The New Jersey Devils netminder is undefeated in regulation in his last three outings, picking up wins over the Calgary Flames, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Buffalo Sabres.
After last season, in which Schneider was the Devils' most valuable player on many a night, his game has dropped off this year. His save rate's fallen from .924 to .912, while his GAA has ticked up from 2.15 to 2.66.
But in the past three games, Schneider tallied 87 saves and allowed just six goals, good for a .935 save percentage with a GAA a notch below 2.00. The Devils sit three points outside of the East's final playoff spot, and strong performances down the stretch from Schneider will be key to New Jersey making its first playoff appearance since 2012.
▼ Andrew Hammond
The good news is it can't get much worse. Hammond, the Ottawa Senators' backup goaltender, struggled through his lone start this week, a 6-0 shelling at the hands of the St. Louis Blues.
Hammond made 24 stops against the Blues, but it wasn't enough, as the B.C. native struggled through his sixth appearance this season. Hammond has yet to find the win column, and his .837 save percentage and 4.08 GAA are among the league's worst.
He appears to be a shell of the goaltender who captured a 20-1-2 record with the Senators in 2014-15 and dragged Ottawa into the postseason. The good news for Senators fans is that Craig Anderson's return to the crease is not far off, and he'll share netminding duties with interim starter Mike Condon while Hammond goes back to the minors.
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