Detroit Red Wings
Talbot Will Be Red Wings’ Starting Goalie Saturday vs. Nashville

Cam Talbot will be in the Detroit Red Wings net Saturday when they hope to shake off Thursday’s bumpy season opener by posting a win against the Nashville Predators.
Talbot’s mission is to help the Red Wings show a stingier defensive presence than was on display Thursday when they fell 6-3 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Coach Derek Lalonde pulled Thursday’s starter Ville Husso early in the second period after the Penguins built a 4-1 lead. Shaky. Rusty. Inconsistent. Pick you favorite adjective to describe Husso who hasn’t played a full 60-minute game in almost nine months.
Husso won the Red Wings’ preseason goaltending competition and then gave up four goals on just 14 shots before being replaced by Cam Talbot who played 54 for the Los Angeles Kings last season. Talbot stopped 12 of 14 shots in his relieft effort.
Talbot’s .911 save percentage last season had to be attractive to a Red Wings team that finished at .902. GM Steve Yzerman gave Talbot a two-year deal worth an average of $2.5 million per season. Detroit’s other goalies, Husso and Alex Lyon, are in the last year of their contract.
Detroit’s nightmarish beginning against the Penguins wasn’t all on Husso. Despite emphasizing tighter defensive play throughout the preseason, the Red Wings could sustain defensive consistency for three full periods.
“It’s just one of those nights in which could not sustain any momentum,” Coach Derek Lalonde said. “Had signs of it, had some spurts of it, but just couldn’t sustain it. “
The Red Wings are starting the season with a challenging schedule. After facing Nashville, they have a home-and-home series with the New York Rangers, another game against the Predators and then contests against the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils.