Detroit Red Wings goalie Ville Husso begins comeback with stint in minors
Ville Husso is ready for the next step in his comeback, and that is a stint in the minors.
The Detroit Red Wings loaned the goaltender to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Thursday, after activating him off injured reserve. The Wings' No. 1 netminder when the season began hasn't played since suffering a lower-body injury Dec. 18, but he has been a part of practices for the last week or so.
In order to get him back up and running, he agreed to a conditioning stint with the Griffins. They have home games Friday and Saturday.
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It's a sensible route for a goalie who hasn't played in more than a month, an opportunity to regain his timing at a competitive level of hockey.
Husso had a 3.53 goals-against average and .893 save percentage in 18 games when he left in the first period of a game against the Anaheim Ducks after appearing to come down awkwardly. He was making his third start in four games and seeing action for a fourth straight game as, in a strange coincidence, Alex Lyon had to leave the previous game, Dec. 16 at the Philadelphia Flyers, when he suffered a mid-body injury.
Lyon was able to return in late December and has since emerged in the No. 1 slot that was Husso's when the season began. Entering Thursday's game at Little Caesars Arena against the Flyers, Lyon had a 2.67 GAA and .919 save percentage in 18 games.
The Wings also have James Reimer on the books; he had a good outing Jan. 14 at the Toronto Maple Leafs, making 28 saves, but overall he has a 3.22 GAA and .894 save percentage in 14 games. Carrying three goaltenders turned out to be a prudent move, as Lyon has kept the Wings in the playoff race as he has emerged in the top spot on the depth chart.
Husso projects to have a leisurely pace back to NHL action. Beyond Thursday, the Wings have only have two games — Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights and Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators — on the schedule before their nine-day All-Star/winter break. They'll host the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 10 in the first game after the break.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Her latest book, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings' Ville Husso begins comeback with stint in minors
