Amid a slow start out of the All-Star break, Alex Lyon is nonetheless the Red Wings' best hope in net. But as Detroit depends on him more down the stretch, will Lyon be able to recover his earlier form?
Amid a slow start out of the All-Star break, Alex Lyon is nonetheless the Red Wings' best hope in net. But as Detroit depends on him more down the stretch, will Lyon be able to recover his earlier form?
Alex Lyon knows how important he is to the Red Wings. He knows that some nights he can determine win or loss. And he knows that Thursday’s performance wasn’t good enough.
Giving up four goals to Vancouver isn’t all that bad at the surface, but it wasn't enough to get a win. He admitted he wanted the Canucks' third goal back, and he also should’ve had the second goal on most nights. And in context of three straight negative impacts above expected, Lyon's recent struggles come at a time when his team needs him for a playoff push.
“I didn’t love my game tonight. I’ll say it flat out,” Lyon said after Thursday's 4-1 loss. “But that being said, I gave up seven last game. So for me it was just about re-engaging and then obviously, you give up two in the first quick there — turns into a mental grind. And so, obviously I want to help the team put a W on the board, put up zero goals, but it’s just a reality of the position and (you) just gotta grind through that.”
Lyon can all but guarantee he’ll be grinding through these next few weeks, because Detroit really doesn’t have an option to replace him. With Ville Husso injured and James Reimer struggling all season, Lyon manning the crease is the single best hope for Detroit.
But a rest could likely do Lyon some good, too. Given his rough reentry in a position where rhythm rules, he might benefit from playing backup for a game. Even his coaches seemed to think that, giving Husso the start in Edmonton before his in-game injury put Lyon right back in the crease. Just when he had a break in his hands, fate otherwise intervened, and he continued to struggle by hemorrhaging seven goals.
But there likely won't be any rest for the weary. Detroit needs to win games for its playoff push, and Lyon is the best chance to do so. That's why he played 17 out of 18 games since coming back from his own injury in December. It's his crease, and as such the burden is strapped clearly across his shoulders.
To be clear, Lyon was up to the test for most of this season — the struggles right now stand out because of how good Lyon has played up to now. He earned at least a point in 11 out of 14 starts before the All-Star break and bye week gave Detroit 10 days to rest. It was a rest well earned for Lyon, but one that also seems to have knocked him off his previous course. Coming out of the extended All-Star break with evident rust in the past three games, Lyon is struggling.
His situation shows the duality of rest for a goaltender. On one hand, he got to recover a little from high usage, but on the other, he left his flow state. A rest now would give him a chance to take a breather while he's still able to prepare for games and get in his groove, but such a reset is unlikely to happen given the state of the goalie room.
However, rest might also be avoidable if Lyon can get his game to click again. He believes he got his game to click again in Thursday’s loss to Vancouver. With two big road games against Calgary and Seattle coming up, as well as the 27 other remaining games, Detroit will need him to bring that A-game. With pressure on his shoulders, Lyon said he can’t even worry about needing a break.
“You can’t even let yourself go there, I guess, is the best way to say it,” Lyon said. “It’s all hands on deck right now. And like I said, I felt good the last two periods there, probably definitely would’ve liked that third goal but it is what it is. … We can’t dwell on it, and we have to learn from it of course.”
Even if he's getting back to his better form, it might make sense to take the risk and shelf him for a game just for his own health and preparation given Lyon’s importance to Detroit's success. But the issue here is who to turn to. In Reimer, the Red Wings haven’t found consistent success. While his last start was a well-earned 4-2 win in Toronto and he played 17 scoreless minutes in a 5-4 loss to Dallas, he has also given up five goals or more in five of his 11 starts. That included four straight starts in December when he was the lead goalie due to Lyon’s and Husso’s injuries. In Reimer, the Red Wings haven’t found anything to lean on down the stretch even if his recent play is a marked improvement.
And really, speaking to the situation this season, Detroit can’t afford a blown tire in net. They need every point they can get as a Patrick Roy-led Islanders team creeps closer and closer to the second wildcard spot. Even using Derek Lalonde’s estimation that his team needs 96 to 100 points to make the playoffs, the Red Wings need at least .500 hockey to get there. Reimer isn’t likely to give them that level of goaltending, and Husso can’t play for a few weeks. Alex Lyon is right — it is all hands on deck, specifically his own blocker and glove.
There are other options to consider besides riding Lyon, sure, but they’re complicated hypotheticals. Detroit could trade for a goaltender, but it’s already committed to Lyon and Husso next season, and they’re already wrangling with the roster spot complexity of a three-goalie tandem as is. Such a move would take a significant decision that could also require mortgaging the future to afford an impact player. Does that make sense to chase a wild card spot? Probably not.
The Red Wings could also move Husso to the injured reserve and call up Sebastian Cossa ahead of schedule. Cossa has played well enough in Grand Rapids, and perhaps he could try his hand in relief of Lyon. However, this would be a significant risk to play a young and unproven prospect instead of a proven — albeit struggling — veteran in Reimer. None of this is to mention the impact of poor play from Cossa, which could derail his confidence. Given that the Red Wings signed Michael Hutchinson before giving Cossa a shot back in December, I wouldn't think this is a likely option.
For now, the answer in net remains Lyon, and it’s likely to remain that way for most games down the stretch. Whether he can rally from momentary rust, or whether he tires out due to overuse, Detroit’s hopes lie with him. And Alex Lyon knows it.
Also from THN Detroit
PP 0-for, Lyon Struggles, Line Shake Ups Abound: Red Wings-Canucks Statistical Review
Detroit lets Thatcher Demko take over in 4-1 loss to Vancouver
Lalonde says Ville Husso week-to-week with lower body injury
How Difficult Can the Red Wings Be as a First-Round Playoff Matchup?
Report: Red Wings to Play Outdoors at the Horseshoe in Columbus in 2025
Patrick Kane return brings options with or without Alex DeBrincat