The Free Press’s Ryan Ford writes a “NHL Central Division Misery Index” column every Monday at Freep.com, and this morning, Ford’s column focuses upon the Red Wings’ struggles winning when Jonathan Bernier is not in their crease:
On Oct. 29, 2019, Jimmy Howard picked up the win for the Detroit Red Wings, stopping 31 of 32 shots against the Oilers — yes, we’re surprised too, and we watched that game — for what would turn out to be his final career victory.
The Wings won 13 more games in the 2019-20 season, all with Jonathan Bernier in net. Howard retired and the Wings brought in Thomas Greiss as a free agent in the offseason — only to see him go winless wearing the Winged Wheel.
Finally, 467 days after Howard’s win, the Wings had a goalie other than Bernier get a W, as Greiss stopped 36 of 37 shots by the Panthers on Sunday in Sunrise, Florida.
It wasn’t for lack of variety, either. The Wings had 40 non-Bernier starts over the streak, with Howard picking up 27 losses last season, Greiss taking those nine L’s this year and Eric Comrie and Calvin Pickard each going down twice.
Meanwhile, every other NHL franchise had at least two goalies win a game. In fact, four — the Hurricanes, Avalanche, Canadiens and Devils — had five goalies each nab wins.
Continued; ouch. That’s all I’ve got to say about this one.
I do not Like Fords anyway. I took a course in CGA days called “How to Lie with Statistics”. Applies here!