Red Wings Postgame: Have We Seen The Last of Lyon?

The night for Detroit Red Wings goalie Alex Lyon ended after 21:33 of ice time and three goals against. But might there be an even bigger finishing line looming for the Detroit netminder?

It’s entirely possible that this could be the last we see of Lyon between the posts as a Red Wings netminder.

The evidence was clear that Lyon, a UFA on July 1, had fallen to No. 3 on the depth chart in the eyes of Detroit coach Todd McLellan. He hadn’t played for eight games when injuries to Petr Mrazek and Cam Talbot thrust him back into the net.

THOMAS CHABOT PICKS HIS SPOT!!!

Fabian Zetterlund records his first point as a Senator as he sends this puck across to a trailing Chabot, putting this one past Alex Lyon.

1-0 #Sens #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/Zdem6pqSIF

— Pesky Sickos (@PeskySickos) March 27, 2025

Lyon was solid in a win at Utah and a loss in Colorado. However, two goals leaked through him on the first three Ottawa shots as the Senators beat the Red Wings 4-3 on Thursday at Little Caesars Arena.

“The fact that we had the chances and it didn’t go in yet at the other end they score two of their first three shots . . . that’s generally really deflating,” McLellan said.

Asked whether Detroit’s defensive lapses or Lyon fighting the puck were the result of the Wings fallen behind 3-0 by 1:33 into the second period, McLellan’s response was a one-word answer.

“Both,” was all he said.

Red Wings Power Play Fizzles

All season long, the power play has been carrying the Detroit offense. Thursday, it was the anchor that sunk the team to defeat.

The Red Wings couldn’t have asked for a better start. They were afforded five power plays over the game’s first 22 minutes. Trouble is, a power-play unit that came into the game clicking at 28.5% failed on all five opportunities.

“A couple things happen,” McLellan explained. “You don’t score. The other team gets a lot of confidence, Their goaltender starts to feel real good. You wonder if it’ll ever happen.

“And you’re wearing out seven, eight players because they played a lot of hockey there, and I think it showed up in the second period. I didn’t think we had a lot of legs and a lot of power to get through things, so it affected us that way.”

Ice Chips

Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond had a goal and an assist to equal his career high of 72 points. With 246 points, only Steve Yzerman (410) and Gordie Howe (257) had more points before their 23rd birthday in franchise history than Raymond.

Lucas Raymond – Detroit Red Wings (25) pic.twitter.com/7sPziFoJQ4

— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) March 28, 2025

Rough night for Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin. He turned the puck over on Ottawa’s first two goals. Larkin was -2 with two giveaways and was 7-for-21 in the faceoff circle.

The Tkachuk brothers, Ottawa’s Brady and Florida’s Matthew, are a combined 29-6-2 against the Red Wings . . . At 33-33-6, the Wings have dropped to a .500 record for the first time since Jan. 21.