What Has the Red Wings Coaching Change Meant for Their Goaltenders?

When new coach Todd McLellan got to Detroit, it seemed a reasonable assumption he would lean on Cam Talbot as his first choice goaltender.  Talbot and McLellan had worked together at previous stops in Edmonton and Los Angeles, so it felt natural that McLellan would turn to familiarity as he got his feet under him.  Instead, Alex Lyon has started four of the Red Wings' six games under McLellan's leadership.  However, after Lyon had to leave Detroit's 3–2 overtime victory over the Senators Tuesday after just one period and the Red Wings re-called goaltender Ville Husso from the AHL yesterday, it appears Talbot may be back in line for more starts.

Since McLellan's arrival, Lyon has made one relief appearance and four starts, making 81 stops on 87 shots for a .931 save percentage.  Talbot has started twice and came on Tuesday in relief.  Across those three appearances, he has 58 saves on 69 shots for an .840 save percentage.  Those numbers (admittedly drawn from small samples for both goaltenders) make it easy to see why McLellan has turned primarily to Lyon since he arrived.

Regardless of who has tended goal, one key area of the Red Wings' success under McLellan has been goaltending on the penalty kill.  As I discussed recently, Detroit has pointed to the PK as a major area of improvement since McLellan's takeover, though the underlying numbers do not necessarily bear that out.  One key marker of that improvement is short-handed save percentage: .772 (31st in the league) before the change and .818 (18th) since.  Perhaps that helps illustrate the way the Red Wings have reduced the danger they allow short-handed in ways that public expected goal models can't measure (i.e. reducing pre-shot movement, open backdoor plays, etc).

Whether or not that is the case, that improvement under McLellan has played a key role in Detroit's five-game winning streak, and now, with Lyon set to spend some time on the shelf injured, the Red Wings will need to keep it up without the man responsible for most of the gains.  For more on that dynamic, check out the featured video above.

Also from THN Detroit

Former Red Wings Forward Hits Waivers

Insider Reveals Red Wings Trade Target

Overtime Still Showtime as Kane Lifts Red Wings over Ottawa

How Sustainable is the Red Wings Penalty Kill Improvement?

History Doesn't Matter as Red Wings Keep Focus on Present vs. Ottawa

3 Red Wings Catching Fire With New Coach

Red Wings "in the Work Phase" as They Prepare to Host Ottawa

Former Red Wing Officially Hangs up the Skates

Potential Next Stops for Former Red Wings Coach