Red Wings Talk: Husso Plays First Full NHL Game in 11 Months

Ville Husso played his first complete NHL game in 329 days, making 20 saves while giving up three goals in the Detroit Red Wings’ 4-0 loss to the New York Rangers.

Injuries prevented him from playing a full game in the second half of last season and he was pulled in the second period by coach Derek Lalonde when he started the opener this season. The Red Wings say they are not giving up on him. But right now, he’s No. 3 behind Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon. The only way Husso moved the needle in this outing is showing he’s healthy.

“Good. Good,” coach Derek Lalonde said after the game.  “Valuable minutes for him. Obviously. I think the pace is a little quicker here than what he’s probably seen over the last few weeks. Being down in the American Hockey League and obviously a skilled team that gets pucks on the net. So I think it was a pretty good game for him.”

The last time he had played a full game in the NHL was Dec. 14, 2023 against the Carolina Hurricanes.  This season, he was pulled in the second period of the season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. After being sent to the AHL, he posted a 1.23 GAA and .958 while sandwiching two wins around a stint on the injured list.

Husso was recalled on an emergency basis because Alex Lyon is hurt. Doctors examined him after the loss, and the Red Wings expect to know more about Lyon over the next 48 hours. For now, he’s day-to-day.

“But (with) that the picture they took of him, the image, we’ll have a better idea,” Lalonde said about Lyon.

Motte Returns

Tyler Motte (upper body injury) played his first game since Oct. 17. He played 11:25 minutes and generated three shots on goal and had one blocked shot. Motte spent time on the penalty kill.

Lalonde scratched Joe Veleno to make room for Motte.

“We’re playing three in four and a back to back with travel,” Lalonde said. “It’s just we wanted to get the healthy body in. I didn’t like it being Joe but he probably became the logical choice with personnel on special teams. “

Ice Chips

Vladimir Tarasenko, struggling offensively, generated three shots on goal against the Rangers. But he was Detroit’s only forward at minus-two…Defenseman Moritz Seider was also minus-two…Jonathan Quick made 37 saves for his 64th career shutout. He also beat Detroit Oct. 17, giving up two goals on 31 shots..