After a strong performance in his season debut against Toronto, Alex Lyon appears to be in line for an imminent uptick in game action

The obvious bright spot from the Detroit Red Wings' 3-2 defeat to the Toronto Maple Leafs in their second game in the NHL Global Series in Stockholm was goaltender Alex Lyon.

Lyon—who had not appeared in a game since the pre-season—stopped 26 of the 29 Maple Leaf shots he faced and played more than well enough to earn two points, even as Detroit squandered a third period lead and dropped the game.

"It was good," said Lyon, reflecting on the outing from his locker back at Little Caesars Arena Monday. "Obviously, as a competitor, you want to play as much as you possibly can, so it felt good to scratch that itch there, and I've just got to say how appreciative I was of the guys. I thought they battled hard and really were desperate for me, so I really appreciate that a lot. Wish I could've reciprocated with a win."

"I've been in this situation many times where I don't get a lot of NHL action, and then, when you're thrust in, it's a results-oriented business, so you're expected to show up no matter the circumstances," added Lyon.  "And quite honestly, at the end of the day, nobody really gives a s*** about your circumstance, so I try to always keep that in mind and just try to perform when I'm called upon."

Starter Ville Husso pointed out that, despite Lyon's modesty and equanimity, being cast into a game against one of the league's most potent offenses, having not played in a meaningful game since the Stanley Cup Final last spring, is no small task.

"It's not easy not playing...a real hockey game since June," Husso pointed out. "It's not easy to jump in, but he's been working really hard. I told him Sunday at the dinner in Sweden, 'if you get the game, just enjoy it. If you do your part, you'll usually give the team a chance to win.' He played great and gave us a chance to win that Friday game."

When asked whether the pace of the game felt unusually fast in the first period after such a long lay-off, Lyon said, "that is exactly what you're trying to fight.  If you feel anxious, the game will feel anxious.  If you feel impatient, the game will be fast.  And so I was just trying to reflect on that moving into the game, trying to get as comfortable as quick as I could and just be patient."

Coach Derek Lalonde wasn't surprised by Lyon's strong showing.  "All along, we were confident to play him at any time," he explained Monday. "He proved very well for us [against the Leafs]. He looked confident. When a goalie looks confident, when he's stopping the puck, he's handling the puck, I think he brought confidence into our group."

When asked how Lyon's performance changed his thoughts around the goalie rotation, Lalonde said, "it hasn't really changed for us in the fact that we're confident with Alex.  It might change in the fact that we would be very confident playing him again, possibly soon."

Also from THN Detroit

Red Wings Goaltender Ville Husso Welcomes Daughter Emmi to the World Amidst Chaotic Trip to Sweden

Injury Update: Red Wings' Jake Walman "Questionable" to Practice Tuesday, Could Play Wednesday vs. Devils

Red Wings Assign Czarnik Assigned to Grand Rapids; No Corresponding Call-Up...Yet

Is it Time to Worry About Marco Kasper's Slow Start in Grand Rapids?

Augustine Backstops Spartans to Sweep Over Top-Ranked Wisconsin

Bertuzzi Burns Wings, Third Period Collapse, Compher Line Struggles, Lyon Holds Firm: Red Wings-Maple Leafs Statistical Review

"In the Third, We Come Out and Play a Bit Scared on Our Heels": Red Wings React to a Disappointing Global Series Loss to the Maple Leafs

Red Wings 2, Maple Leafs 3: Swede Nylander Leads Leaf Comeback, Sending Detroit Home Sour