The Free Press’s Helene St. James discusses the Red Wings’ goaltending situation this morning, as Alex Lyon returns from a lower-body injury tonight vs. Philadelphia (7 PM EST start on TNT/97.1 FM), Ville Husso’s earned his first win of the season, and Cam Talbot is slated to return from his lower-body injury on Friday:
“We’ve been able to turn to an experienced goalie that we believe in all year,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “Over two years, good on our management team, thinking outside the box with roster management and being able to carry three goalies. It salvaged our season and got us on the brink of the playoffs last year, and it’s kept us in the battle this year. We’ve had four goalies win games for us this year and we’re not even at Christmas.”
Husso is coming off his first NHL win in more than a year, helping the Wings defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs Dec. 14. The Wings called him up Nov. 27 on an emergency basis, so when Talbot is also healthy, they will have to decide whether to carry three or send Husso back to Grand Rapids Griffins.
He knows that can happen, but “I just go day by day,” Husso said. “I don’t think there is any other way. Do my job and I don’t think about that other stuff. It’s been nice to be home and hopefully I’ll get to spend Christmas with the family. That will be good.”
Lalonde deferred speculation, saying, “let’s get to three healthy goalies first,” and complemented Husso on his professionalism.
“Ville is just a genuinely really good person, very well liked in the room,” Lalonde said. “He’s a guy you root for. He’s worked hard. A lot of the adversity has come through injury, he’s had some lower body injuries he’s dealt with. He keeps working at it.”
St. James continues, and she posted a video of a her Tuesday conversation with Lyon, Husso and coach Lalonde after Tuesday’s practice as well:
