MacDonald Last Wings’ Rookie Goalie to Debut with Shutout Period

At the end of the first period tonight, which saw Detroit rookie netminder Petr Mrazek hold the St. Louis Blues scoreless in his first NHL appearance, I asked Twitter when the last time that happened for the Wings was.

When was the last time a Wings’ rookie goalie debuted with a shutout period? Sure as hell not McCollum.
— Clark Rasmussen (@detroithockey96) February 7, 2013

The last Red Wings rookie netminder to make an appearance was Tom McCollum, who was lit up for three goals in 14:37 against St. Louis on March 30, 2011.

Before that, though? Joey MacDonald made his NHL debut with Detroit in relief of Chris Osgood on October 19, 2006. He came in with 5:28 left in the first period after Osgood allowed three power play goals and didn’t allow his first goal against until 5:01 of the third, beginning his career with 30:29 of shutout hockey, including the entire second period.

Jimmy Howard was the last Wings’ rookie goalie to start his debut game with a shutout period, as his career began on November 28, 2005, with 27:39 of shutout hockey against the Los Angeles Kings.

The last Red Wings rookie goalie to have a longer shutout streak to start his NHL career than Mrazek, who’s streak ended at 35:45, was Kevin Hodson, who began his career on January 6, 1996, with a blanking of the Chicago Blackhawks.