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Red Wings Goalies Making Shot Disparity Less Painful

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Alex Lyon, Red Wings

The hard numbers show that the Detroit Red Wings are the only team today in the NHL giving up 10 more shots on goal per game than it is generating.



Coach Derek Lalonde’s team surrenders 34.9 shots per game, while producing 24.8 shots. Those numbers are last in the NHL in both categories. The Anaheim Ducks (6.5)  and Calgary Flames (6.8) and Montreal Canadiens (8.2) are the only other teams with negative goal differentials of five or more.

“I think volume is real, I think it’s an issue,” Coach Derek Lalonde said Tuesday. “Even the two own goals against us – Buffalo game where it went off our D-man’s back and then Edmonton’s first goal that went off our D-man’s stick, those came with volume, even though they’re not Grade A’s. So, I think there’s an emphasis on that.”

With the league average save percentage now at .896., it stands to reason that facing a 10-shot disparity means you are giving up an extra goal per game because of that.

Amid the analysis of where the extra shots against the Detroit are coming from, it seems somewhat overlooked that the primary reason the Red Wings are play .500 hockey (4-4-1)is their goaltending consistency is better than it has been in years.

The Red Wings rank fifth in the NHL with a team save percentage of .917. Alex Lyon is at .940 and Cam Talbot is at .913. Detroit and Dallas are the only two teams with two shutouts in the early going.

Save Percentage Improved

Last season, Detroit finished 18th at .902. It seems as if the Red Wings could be heading toward a games split that will not be one-sided. Of course, if a goalie gets hot, or becomes injured, for an extended time that could certainly change everything.

The shot disparity has spawned a debate about how important that stat truly is. How many of those shots represent quality scoring chances? How many shots are from the perimeter?  They are winning games when they are out-shot. Included in those games was a 1-0 triumph against Islanders when they managed 10 shots.

“We’re keeping shots to the perimeter,” Lalonde said. “It’s helped our goalies. I don’t think it’s an accident. Their numbers are really good. Volume is real and it’s something we’re going to try to suppress.”

The truth is shot disparity is important but Detroit’s goalie have made it less so.

Talbot played last game against the Oilers and Lyon will go Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets.

“We’re in a really good spot with two goalies going really well,” Lalonde said. “And I don’t see any reason not to come back with Alex.”

If this level of goaltending consistency continues, this could be the most consistent tandem since Chris Osgood and Ty Conklin both had strong seasons in 2008-09. Osgood, with 46 appearances, was 26-9-8 with a 3.09 GAA and Conklin (appearances) 40 was 25-11-2 with a 2.51 GAA.

Alex Motte (upper body injury) is skating with the team, but he’s not quite ready to play. The forwards will likely be the same as they were against the Oilers. Lalonde will likely change the third pairing on defense.