Detroit Red Wings starting goaltender job may be up for grabs

The Detroit Red Wings are trying to compete and prove that they can compete. They are on the edge of a postseason run, trying to prove that they will be a team that plays into the postseason this season.

When the team added Patrick Kane, it was almost a boost of confidence that the Detroit Red Wings are here and ready to compete. The roadblock to doing so right now, seemingly, is the teams’ players between the pipes.

Ville Husso has been a bit of a liability between the pipes this year. Between inconsistent play, some real soft goals, and what feels like a lack of a glove, Husso has not quite been “the guy.” I really hate to give up on Husso or throw in the towel, but I certainly have been hoping for some better performances from the Finnish netminder.

Even if he was not brought in to be the answer or be “the guy,” I was hoping for better, hoping that he could at least be a solid 1A guy in a tandem. Right now, I’d rather see Alex Lyon suit up as the 1A guy, letting Husso take the backseat and maybe even mix in James Reimer here and there.

Detroit Red Wings may need to relinquish the starting job from Ville Husso.

Derek Lalonde has been willing to shuffle the deck up front with the lines, so why not try to switch things up between the pipes? Ville Husso has not quite been the player that folks were expecting, and Lyon has been mighty good so far.

Now, do not get it twisted; if Husso is going to be relegated to the “backup” spot, it’s not to say that Lyon is the new future of Red Wings goaltending. Let’s not get too carried away, but if Lyon gives Detroit a better chance to win right now, which it feels that way, then Lalonde should work with Lyon.

Husso has played in 14 games for the Red Wings this season; he’s managed an 8-4-2 record with a 3.65 goals-against average (GAA) and a .886 save percentage (SV%) on the season. Sure, the win-loss looks alright, but after the loss on Thursday, there has to be some concern with the SV% as well.

Lyon, on the other hand, is 4-1-0 over a smaller sample size. But, even then, the stats are much more appealing, with a 1.61 GAA and .947 SV% through his time in the crease for Detroit. It may be a smaller sample size, but Lyon has been solid.

Heck, even Reimer has a better GAA and SV% over the smaller sample size. Reimer is 2-2-2 with a 2.30 GAA and .917 SV% through his six games played with the Red Wings. While he has not played since November 16th, it might be time to start changing things up with the goalie tandem.

Husso may need to take a seat, trusting Lyon to be the starter for now and maybe even give Reimer another look.