The Daily: Why 3G Net-working Will Work For Red Wings; Mrazek Solid In Chicago Goal

The Detroit Red Wings are defying the hockey gods in the new math they’re trying to make add up between the posts. The NHL instituted the two-goalie system in 1965 and since then, simple math was always suggesting the following equation – three goalies can’t go into two nets.

Certainly in this scenario, much like Curly of the Three Stooges, the Red Wings are the victims of circumstance. Were they to try and send veteran Alex Lyon to the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, odds are the goalie-desperate Tampa Bay Lightning would be scooping him up off the waiver wire.

🐙 Let’s Go Red Wings 🐙 We are super excited to launch our new Detroit Red Wings collection for the start of the new hockey season. We took Ville Husso’s goalie pads from last season and made some incredible leather pieces for Hockeytown fans to enjoy! pic.twitter.com/DFj3eNGSQZ

— Second String Leather Company (@SecondStringLC) October 11, 2023

So it’s three puckstoppers for Detroit for the time being and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. As DHN’s Kevin Allen pointed out, the move will be keeping the pressure to produce on No. 1 goalie Ville Husso. And as Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde was adding, he still doesn’t know for certain who’s his No. 2 guy between Lyon and James Reimer.

Competition is good, competition is healthy. Let the games begin.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Out of desperation to attend a hockey school at the age of 10, Red Wings prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka fibbed and said he was a defenseman. And he’s been one ever since
• This isn’t the first time Detroit has opened the season with three goalies. In 1968-69, the Red Wings played the entire season rotating Roger Crozier, Roy Edwards and Terry Sawchuk between the pipes
• Battling Parkinson’s Disease, former Red Wings defenseman Barry Melrose is leaving his NHL analyst’s job with ESPN
• Detroit coach Derek Lalonde believes it will be fun watching his team bid for an NHL playoff spot

Red Wings Next Game

Detroit is opening the NHL regular season on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET) at New Jersey. The Red Wings are 2-4-3 all-time vs the Devils in October games.

Atlantic Division

Boston: Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand is labeling the NHL decision to ban pride tape as unfortunate.

Florida: On Monday, the Florida Panthers sent Justin Sourdif to AHL Charlotte. One Tuesday, the Panthers were recalling him.

Montreal: Gotta see it: Montreal Canadiens tough guy Arber Xhekaj and Toronto Maple Leafs heavyweight Ryan Reaves dropped the mitts.

Toronto: The Toronto Maple Leafs feel like a different team entering the NHL season, but are they really?

Ottawa: Only cap space is perventing a new deal between the Ottawa Senators and RFA Shane Pinto.

Tampa Bay: Nikita Kucherov scored, Brayden Point played his 500th NHL game and the Tampa Bay Lightning opened with a 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators.

Hockey Now Network

Pittsburgh: Was defenseman Kris Letang seeing the future when he spoke of the Pittsburgh Penguins and their inability to close out games prior to their season-opening 4-2 loss to Chicago?

Philadelphia: With the NHL season upon us, GM Daniel Briere was opening up about the state of the Philadelphia Flyers.

New Jersey: On the eve of their season opener against Detroit, head coach Lindy Ruff and the New Jersey Devils were coming to agreement on a multi-year contract extension.

Carolina: The Carolina Hurricanes were acquiring forward Callahan Burke in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche.

Washington: Forwards Connor McMichael and Aliaksei Protas were given a recall from the AHL Hershey Bears in time for the Washington Capitals season opener.

Islanders: Is New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin a good bet for the Vezina Trophy?

Chicago: Former Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek was standing tall as the Chicago Blackhawks were rallying to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Petr Mrázek's 38 saves yesterday are the most in a @NHLBlackhawks season opener since 1955. 🔥#NHL | #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/GnQ222ECIa

— Hockey Reference (@hockey_ref) October 11, 2023

Colorado: NHL veteran forward Peter Holland and Joel Kiviranta were signing AHL contracts with the Colorado Eagles.

Nashville: Looking back to 25 years ago when the Nashville Predators were a fledgling NHL franchise.

Vegas: Vegas Golden Knights forward Brett Howden has been suspended for two games by the NHL Player Safety Department for his illegal check to the head of Seattle’s Brandon Tanev.

San Jose: San Jose Sharks forward Anthony Duclair finds the NHL decision to ban specialty nights to be puzzling.