As much as Detroit Red Wings fans would like to see goalie Alex Lyon play as often as possible, the idea that an NHL goalie can play game after game after game went out of style with Glenn Hall.
Injured Ville Husso isn’t close to being ready. The Red Wings know they must find a start or two for James Reimer.
One of those will come this weekend. The Red Wings play tonight against the Los Angeles Kings and travel to Toronto to play the Maple Leafs on Sunday.
“Probably Reimer in Toronto,” Coach Derek Lalonde said. “We’ll decide that. But they’re getting one of the two. We’re detailing that out. We’re going to play both of them, it’s just who and for what reason.”
Reimer, who started his NHL career with the Maple Leafs, hasn’t played since Dec. 27, and he has given up 17 goals in his past three starts. Since starting the season 2-0, Reimer is 1-6-2. He hasn’t put up a save percentage above .900 in a game since Nov. 2. He’s an NHL veteran, with 488 appearances, but probably needs games to restore his confidence.
“He’s such a proven goalie in this league, he’s done it his whole career,” Lalonde said. “Of late in his career he’s had some of these up and down stretches and he’s always shown to have an up. He had an up at the beginning of the season. I’ll be on him to fight through it. Hopefully, the group’s been a little better in front of him. I’m sure he’s not happy with where his game was but we went through that stretch of the guys out, really tough schedule, we put too much on him. Maybe the combination of him fighting through it and us being a little better in front of him will be a recipe of success for him.”
Red Wings Need 95-100 Points
Goaltending consistency will be crucial for the Red Wings down the stretch because they may have to pick up their winning pace to stay in the race.
The Red Wings are currently on a pace for 90 points, and Lalonde believes it will take a point total in the mid-nineties or even 100 points to make the playoff pool.
You’re literally scratching and clawing for every point and you’re going to need it. If you’d have told us we’d be on pace for 90 points at the halfway mark, I’ll take it, but we’re going to need a little more if we’re going to stay in this battle.”
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