Alex Lyon recorded his second NHL shutout with 16 saves, leading the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night. Robby Fabbri contributed a goal and an assist in the win.
Lyon’s Stellar Performance
Lyon, making his second start of the season, secured his first shutout since last April when he was with Florida. The 30-year-old goaltender, now with his fourth NHL team since the 2017-18 season, signed a two-year contract with Detroit during the offseason.
“I’ve waited many years for this opportunity, and it’s a skill to stay ready when you haven’t played much,” Lyon said. “Even games in the AHL don’t prepare you for the speed at this level.”
Red Wings’ Offensive Surge
The Red Wings scored three goals within a span of 1:12 late in the first period. Lucas Raymond extended his goal streak to four games, while Dylan Larkin and Moritz Seider also scored. Daniel Sprong provided two assists.
Impact of the Global Series
Detroit returned from the NHL’s Global Series in Sweden with a 0-1-1 record.
“This is huge to come back from Sweden and those two tough losses to get a win here,” Fabbri said. “We know this is a big weekend in Detroit, with Thanksgiving, the Lions, and Michigan (football), and the energy here was great.”
Devils’ Struggles
New Jersey, shut out for the first time this season, managed 16 shots on goal. Vitek Vanecek made 24 saves in the loss.
“They were a step ahead of us all game,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “They outskated us and outcompeted us. They wanted it a lot more than we did. By the night’s end, we got exactly what we deserved.”
Key Moments
Raymond initiated the late first-period scoring spree by lifting a shot over Vanecek’s shoulder off Fabbri’s feed during a 2-on-1. Larkin followed 20 seconds later with a backhander through Vanecek’s legs. Fabbri capped the flurry with a wrist shot past Vanecek’s glove.
“I turned the puck over twice, and they went down and scored. Definitely not good enough,” said Devils forward Tyler Toffoli. “Very disappointed in myself and my game tonight. I take the blame on two of those goals.”
Seider added a power-play goal midway through the second period as the Red Wings ended a power-play drought.
Defensive Effort
“Obviously, I love how we defended,” said Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde. “They didn’t get a lot, but Alex was great when we needed him. There were still some moments we could manage better, but we had some defensive urgency coming off a tough trip.”
Upcoming Games
- Devils: Host Columbus on Friday.
- Red Wings: Visit Boston on Friday.
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