Lyon Makes Red Wings Goalie Race Too Close to Call

Red Wings goalie Alex Lyon has been a professional since 2016 and yet he didn’t start earning full credit for his work until 17 months ago.

It all changed for Lyon in the spring of 2023.  Over a span of 12 days, he went 6-0-1 in net for the Florida Panthers to assure their postseason berth. In all seven of those starts, Lyon yielded two or fewer goals. The Floridians don’t reach the Stanley Cup Final without Lyon’s help. Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman saw enough from him to give him a two-year deal in Detroit.  Today, his $900,000 salary looks like an incredible bargain.

“He gets that look to him where he looks very confident,” coach Derek Lalonde said.

Lyon, 31, is very much in the race to become the Red Wings’ first option in net this season. He earned the respect of the team’s management, coaches and player last season when he posted a 21-18-5 record with a .904 save percentage for a team not known for stingy defensive play.

The Baudette, Minn native will play two periods tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks at Little Caesars in Game 2 of team’s open goalie competition. Cam Talbot, signed this offseason, will play the third period.

The Red Wings believe Lyon made considerable gains when he was Detroit’s No. 1 for a good chunk of the season.

“Competition, compete, confidence, I think maybe even a little mental toughness, never getting minutes at this level, maybe going past the threshold for him.

Lyon Roars

Lyon had previously never played more than 15 games in an NHL season. His 44 appearances for Detroit was the most he made since playing the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the American Hockey League. Lalonde suggests that the Red Wings probably had to play him to much last season.

“You can almost read him because he lost a little of that swagger towards the end of the just being a little bit tired and then that opportunity to have (for Team USA at the) worlds, he had that look going again.”

Lyon had to leave the World Championships because of a hand injury.

“I think the biggest thing (last season) was confidence. Not only that, he believes he can play in this league. He belongs in this league, but he can win in this league, which he did of course.”

Talbot might be the favorite in the race, primarily because he had better numbers last season (2.48, .913). He was particularly impressive in the first half when played his way into the NHL All-Star game.

Ville Husso got the first goalie start Wednesday in Chicago and stopped 15 of 17 shots in 40 minutes of work. That’s an .887 save percentage. The key in the first start was demonstrating he was healthy, and he did that.