The Daily: Red Wings Invested in Walleye Run; Augustine Wins

The Toledo Walleye, using Red Wings-sponsored goalies, are down 1-0 in their best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series to the Kansas City Mavericks.

Toledo’s 22-game winning streak ended Friday night when the Mavericks won Game 1 by 3-2 verdict in Toledo. Former Michigan State goalie John Lethemon, who is on a Red Wings’ two-way contract, was in net. He stopped 19 of 22 shots.

Game 2 is tonight in Toledo (7:15 p.m.). If the Walleye continue to rotate goalies, the Walleye goalie tonight will be 2020 Red Wings draft pick Jan Bednar. He’s on a Grand Rapids Griffins contract.

Each goalie has won four playoff games for the Walleye. Lethemon owns a 2.13 goals-against average and Bednar is at 2.20.

The Toledo Walleye fell to the Kansas City Mavericks 3-2 on Friday night at the Huntington Center. Brandon Hawkins and Riley Sawchuk each lit the lamp in game one of the Western Conference Finals as the Walleye suffered defeat for the first time in two months.

Game Recap:… pic.twitter.com/XVvmDXwapI

— xy – Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) May 18, 2024

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

Lucas Raymond has bumped from Sweden’s first line to its second line at the World Championships.

Former Red Wings great Henrik Zetterberg is trying to promote the sport of padel to Michigan.

Detroit prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka is a finalist for Young Player of the Year award in European hockey.

Red Wings Offseason

Goalie Trey Augustine’s 20-save 4-1 triumph for Team USA over Poland puts him among the goalie leaders at the World Championships. Augustine, who has dressed for all five USA games, has posted a 1.37 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage in his three appearances. That ranks fourth among all goalies at the World Championships in Czechia.

Hockey Now Network

New York: Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello won the recruiting war to land the top Kontinental Hockey League free agent. Several NHL teams were bidding for him. New York Islanders. 

Philadelphia: Jonathan Bailey explores why the Flyers organization has the highest salary cap hit for next season. For one thing, the team has too much dead cap space. Philadelphia Flyers. 

San Jose:  Boston University coach Jay Pandolfo has thoughts about Macklin Celebrini’s readiness to immediately help San Jose’s rebuild. San Jose Sharks.