Detroit Red Wings looking to Carter Mazur for a spark. Here's why
2021 third-round pick Carter Mazur is back with the Detroit Red Wings nearly a year after an elbow injury ended his NHL debut 70 seconds in.
That was 10 minutes of exhileration and relief for Carter Mazur. The Detroit Red Wings draftee is slated to appear in his second straight NHL game when the Wings play at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, March 31 (7 p. m.
, FanDuel Sports Network Detroit), the start of a three-game trip and the first of nine games left on the schedule. Goaltender John Gibson is slated to make his 12th consecutive start. Mazur made his 2025-26 debut Saturday, a little more than a year after his NHL debut lasted just 1:10 minutes, ending during his second shift when he suffered an elbow injury.
"The first period I was a little bit timid for sure, especially with how last time went," Mazur said after Monday's practice. "That's kind of in the back of my mind. But now that I got the first one out of the way, I'm feeling really confident in my game.
" SPARK WANTED: Detroit Red Wings 'somewhat embarrassed' as coach renews criticism It's a heady time to be joining the Wings (39-26-8, two points out of playoff cutoff) as they try to climb the standings, but Mazur fit the bill when the coaching staff was looking for someone in the minors to aid in the effort. Mazur has 11 goals among 15 points in 14 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins this season. "I didn't know a lot about Carter," coach Todd McLellan said.