Red Wings unveil their stance on goaltender John Gibson following home opener blunder
Photo credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
The Detroit Red Wings organization has made an official decision on their goaltender John Gibson following his home opener blunder against the Montreal Canadiens.
When he acquired John Gibson in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks early in the offseason, Steve Yzerman surely didn't expect to see him struggle that much in his first game with the Detroit Red Wings.
Fans, who are eager to watch the team win and finally return to the playoffs for the first time in a decade, also didn't expect such a tough performance from Gibson.
Indeed, he allowed five goals on his first 13 shots faced as a member of the Wings.
Gibson hasn't been sent on the ice for a game since being replaced by Cam Talbot in the second period of the first game.
Today, the Red Wings proved that they trust him and want to see him succeed by giving him another shot tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
John Gibson To Start Tonight For The First Time Since Home Opener Blunder: Todd McLellan Still Trusts Him
The Red Wings may not have started the season on a high note, but the team bounced back well by winning their next three games.
As for Gibson's tough opening night performance, McLellan backed him up, saying the team in front of him wasn't good, and that he expects him to play a lot of games for the Wings:
"He didn't have a bad outing, we had a bad outing. He just happens to wear different equipment than everybody else. We were all part of it. The coaching staff was part of it. And he has a really good track record. We're confident in him. We expect him to play a lot for us."
At the end of the day, Gibson's mistake isn't that bad. The team is currently in second place in the division, with a 3-1 record.
McLellan knows that there's a tough challenge ahead with the Lightning in town.
Here's how McLellan approaches the upcoming game:
"Six points is six points. It really doesn't matter where it comes from, but when we looked at what was in front of us when we were starting, we knew we'd have our work cut out for us.
That doesn't change tomorrow night. Obviously, Tampa is a very good hockey club and then Edmonton [on Sunday afternoon] you can just keep on going. Wins aside, how we've been able to play a certain type of game is satisfying.
Really, you can see when we don't play that game what the results are, so we're able to sell to the players a little bit more an identity, and they're able to buy into it because when they're not doing it, it's a little ragged and we don't quite look how we want to look."
That doesn't change tomorrow night. Obviously, Tampa is a very good hockey club and then Edmonton [on Sunday afternoon] you can just keep on going. Wins aside, how we've been able to play a certain type of game is satisfying.
Really, you can see when we don't play that game what the results are, so we're able to sell to the players a little bit more an identity, and they're able to buy into it because when they're not doing it, it's a little ragged and we don't quite look how we want to look."
Jon Cooper's team has been struggling this season, with only one win in their first four games, meaning they will do all they can to bounce back against John Gibson and the Red Wings.
Previously on Red Wings Insider
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