A day before the Detroit Red Wings’ 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, head coach Derek Lalonde reflected on the situation in net. His team’s hopes of three capable starters gave him plenty to think about – a “positive issue”, he assessed. The Red Wings would go with the hot hand, with three to choose from. They chose Ville Husso because of his strong play in preseason.
But what happens when the hot hand turns cold?
Ville Husso looked like the starter Detroit envisioned a year ago before injuries kept him out of all but one game last December. After a difficult summer spent rehabbing injuries and getting back into shape, the preseason slate showed that Husso was the figurative hot hand of the group that most relied on getting off to a good start.
Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-Imagn images
Instead, Husso’s night lasted just 21 minutes as he let in four goals in 14 shots before being pulled. After coming back from so much in his recovery process, Husso’s performance isn’t what he or anyone else wanted afterward.
“Husso clearly didn’t look as sharp as he did in pre-season,” Lalonde assessed after the match, noting how little action Husso has seen this calendar year. “Even, you can just tell, some of the rebound control, some of the things that stuck with him or that he controlled in the preseason, he didn’t do tonight.”
What happens if the second hand turns out to be just as cold?
Cam Talbot, the goaltender signed as the most proven starter of the three goaltenders on the roster, came in to relieve Husso, but his performance did little to ease concerns. In 27 minutes and on as many shots, Talbot scored two goals: three, if you count a Penguins goal being overturned due to a handpass challenge. Even with the caveat of not having a warm-up for an unscheduled performance, Talbot still didn’t answer the call.
So if Detroit is still looking for the hot hand, where does Lalonde go?
“Obviously Ville didn’t look too comfortable tonight, which is understandable considering the amount of hockey he’s played,” Lalonde said. “But it really hasn’t changed from the exhibition and preseason – all three guys we have some confidence in.”
Talbot came in in relief, so there is some wiggle room you can give to his poor performance. The only untapped resource remains Alex Lyon, the third goalkeeper who started last season. But Detroit must also consider how quickly Husso deserves a second chance to prove his abilities.
It is also necessary to assess the defense’s hand in all this. The Penguins stormed in from the hashmarks with little to no resistance from the Red Wings. Despite Detroit having physical defenders on the roster such as Ben Chiarot, Simon Edvinsson and especially Moritz Seider, they and their teammates proved ineffective at defending the crease. That’s how Anthony Beauvillier scored Pittsburgh’s first and second goals, and how Drew O’Connor scored the third. It’s also how Kevin Hayes put the exclamation point on a 6-3 Penguins win with the final score.
Asked about the protection of the net front, Lalonde noted how Detroit could not maintain control of the details – including boxouts and arrivals – although the goaltenders’ poor rebound control also put the defense in difficult positions.
As much as Husso and Talbot take the blame for the bulk of Pittsburgh’s six goals, the defense can’t escape it either.
“You don’t want to see that at all,” said captain Dylan Larkin after the match. “Just a bad second period for all of us, and he’s the one who gets pulled. That’s not fair to him. When a goalkeeper is pulled, it’s usually not just him, it’s an entire lineup that has to be accountable.”
Maybe Husso can find his feet again. To be clear, it’s hard to pack that much value into one mediocre performance. But given three options, there’s no guarantee Husso will hear his name called again. After showing he’s cold, Husso must prove he’s the hot hand to get another chance. But for that he needs starts. It’s a catch-22 situation.
Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-Imagn images
“Husso has recovered from everything he’s been through,” Larkin said. “We know what kind of player he can be for us, and I know he will be back from tonight.”
In their first action of the season, Husso and Talbot both showed a need for improvement. And the way Detroit’s rotation is dictated by metaphorical heat will make it difficult for them to get a chance to warm up. The idea of three goaltenders on the roster is that one of the three will prove capable of being the starter. The hope is that someone will claim the runway. Neither Thursday night performance offered any progress on that front.
Once again the question arises of what happens next. Ahead of Saturday’s visit from Nashville, Lalonde indicated that Detroit will discuss whether Talbot or Lyon will start.
Meanwhile, the games are only going to get tougher from here on out: The Red Wings have two games coming up at home and away against the New York Rangers and Predators in the next two weeks. And a team that aspires to be a playoff contender can’t capitulate to tough games either.
Thursday’s home opener showed that a “positive problem” was just an outright problem, as Detroit was negative about the answers. If the Red Wings want to get off to a good start, they need to find one before cold hands turn October into a cold start.
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