Lyon, Red Wings Looking for Comfort at Goalie

The Detroit Red Wings are hoping the preseason will begin to clear the waters of their current murky goalie situation. Coach Derek Lalonde has described the situation heading into the season as wanting everyone involved to view the situation as a “clean slate.”

Alex Lyon got on the board in the goalie competition Friday with 13 saves over two periods in Detroit’s 2-0 win against Chicago. Free agent acquisition Cam Talbot, the only Detroit goalie with a two-year contract, played the third period and made nine stops to preserve the shutout. The Blackhawks had good looks against Talbot.

“A couple grade A’s, ” Lalonde said. “So it was good for him to get some looks. I thought both goalies, obviously not a huge volume night, but I think they got enough looks.”

Incumbents Ville Husso and Alex Lyon have both shown solid performances over the past two years, but unfortunately never at the same time. Husso, acquired and signed in 2022, spent most of the second half of the 23-24 season recovering from a lower body injury that has been rearing its ugly head throughout his appearances in recovery stints, causing him to exit early in two AHL contests last April, and briefly in his two periods of action in the first game of the preseason.

From the outside looking in, the goalie situation still lacks clarity, and it is still to be decided who is No. 1 and who is No. 2.

“Our approach all along here was a clean slate for the goaltending,” Lalonde said. “We’re sticking to that, and so far I think all four goalies have shown some positives.”

Husso was the starter in the first preseason game. Lyon was the starter in the second. Lalonde was giving both goalies two periods of work. A low-cost free agent addition, Lyon had ended the 2022-23 season hot playing for the Florida Panthers in limited action, seeing about fifteen games before they were ushered out of the playoffs.

Lyon Offered Red Wings Value

Lyon performed at a high value level last year, especially given his two-year $1.8 million dollar contract, and beginning as the third goalie behind Husso and James Reimer. Taking over for Husso after that December injury and posting a .904 save % and 3.05 GAA in 44 appearances as the Red Wings fought and nearly landed a playoff spot. That was also the most amount of meaningful NHL games he ever played during a season.

Lyon was good, but eventually his workload was wearing him down. He simply could not keep up with the amount of games being put on his plate. This year, the expectations are different with him seriously vying for the No. 1 spot. This is also the first time 31-year-old Lyon is an incumbent.

“Definitely it’s more confidence (also),” Lyon said. “I’ve been on one-year deals and so just being back in a place to have a little bit of comfortability is something that I haven’t experienced for a while.”

Hopefully that comfortability translates into his game.

Where Does Talbot Fit ?

Cam Talbot is the newcomer in the goalie competition on the roster. He was facing nine shots when the Blackhawks put on a third period charge.

Said Lalonde, “It was good for him to get some looks. I thought both goalies, obviously not a huge volume night, but I think they got enough looks.”

Last year, that No. 3 spot was occupied by James Reimer. Lyon simply began outplaying him following Husso’s injury in December. For the Red Wings to be successful this year, Talbot has to be a goalie that fans don’t collectively groan at when he’s announced for the lineup.

Husso start his second preseason game tonight against Pittsburgh. It’s likely we will know more about Talbot’s place in the Detroit goalie pecking order based on Husso’s performance.