When it rains, it pours. The age-old motto rings especially true for the Detroit Red Wings as of late. Sure, Dylan Larkin and J.T. Compher are back, but Klim Kostin is out once again, getting hurt just as quickly as he returned.
However, the worrisome part is the goaltending situation. After the Detroit Red Wings lost out on Alex Lyon from their loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, things got even worse for Detroit. In Monday night’s game, Ville Husso was forced to leave the game early.
Husso was sliding across the crease to make a save. He extended the legs, and after that, play continued, only for a few moments while Husso lay there in pain. The play was blown dead, and the Red Wings medical staff went to check on Husso before he was helped off the ice. He could not put any weight on his right leg on his way off the ice.
Here’s the play…
Trevor Thompson has the latest on Ville Husso’s injury.#LGRW pic.twitter.com/KwR4eCnIfH
— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) December 19, 2023
The Red Wings announced he was unable to return with a lower-body injury. Looking at the play, it seems like he overextended something or possibly sustained a right-leg injury that could be serious. It’s worrisome regardless and not going to help the Red Wings at all.
Detroit Red Wings need to press the panic button.
The Red Wings are in a spot to panic. Detroit is without Husso and Lyon for the time being. That means that it is the James Reimer show now. Reimer has logged nine games, with seven starts after coming in to relieve Husso on Monday night in his second “relief” appearance of the season.
Reimer’s played to a 2.61 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage. Even though he’s not a true starter, the one benefit of having three goaltenders on the roster is the depth when something like this happens, especially with Reimer being a veteran.
But Reimer is not the answer if Lyon and/or Husso are going to be out for an extended period. It could result in disastrous play between the pipes if Lalonde is forced to ride on Reimer night in and night out for an extended period. Reimer may be fine as that No. 2 goalie, but there’s no telling exactly what the goaltending situation will look like right now.
In Grand Rapids, Sebastian Cossa and Michael Hutchinson are the goaltenders. Detroit may have to call upon Hutchinson to help serve as the Red Wings backup. As more information comes out about Husso and Lyon, a better plan of attack may come to light, but for now, it’s pretty worrisome.
Hopefully, some clarity will be available soon. The Red Wings will need to figure out something to try and stay on track.