Originally posted on Detroit Hockey Now | By Kevin Allen
The wonder of the goalie Cam Talbot 40-save shutout in his first Detroit Red Wings start wasn’t the volume of shots he stopped. It was when he made them.
When pressure was rising, Talbot was there.
“Just that timely save,” teammate Andrew Copp said. “It can be so important.”
Talbot posted 16 shots in the first period, and 12 in both the second and third periods, to beat the Nashville Predators, 3-0.
Talbot became the second goalie in NHL history to own shutouts with seven different teams in his 488-game NHL career: The New York Rangers, Edmonton, Calgary, Minnesota, Ottawa, Los Angeles and Detroit. Sean Burke is the other.
Talbot Got Two-Year Deal
“Talbot was great,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. “We did enough to put some by him, but he was outstanding. I think we got a little cute at times — we added some really good scorers and I think sometimes we’re deferring to them. We need to be a little harder. In this league, it is usually harder that wins, not cuter.”
The Red Wings signed UFA Talbot July 1, believing he could be in the mix to be the team’s starting goalie. His .911 save percentage helped the Los Angeles Kings reach the playoffs last season.
“He’s pretty consistent,” Lalonde said. “I think if you can manage your game in front of him where you’re not making him move laterally, you’re seeing pucks, he’s going to give you a pretty solid effort. And I thought that was the case tonight. He made a couple spectacular saves moving east-west, but with an offensive team like that, you’re going to have it. But I think he did a really good job. He instilled a confidence in our group throughout and I think we responded well.”
He is the third Red Wings goalie over age 37, joining Ed Giacomin and Dominik Hasek, to record a shutout for the team.
“I would take that performance anytime,” Talbot said. “Not just the first game of the new team I got my feet wet last game in the second and third there, and just kind of tried to carry it over. Nashville is a heck of a hockey club. They added a lot of weapons this year, so we knew it was going to be a tough task. I was just trying to do my part.”
The Red Wings are carrying three goalies, and it will likely be a competition all season to be No. 1. Based on coaches liking hot goalies, it seems likely Talbot will play Monday against the New York Rangers.
Fischer’s Status Unknown
Christian Fischer, one of Detroit’s top forecheckers, had to leave the game Saturday because of an injury.
“Upper body. Hasn’t been evaluated yet,” Lalonde said. “So day to day or we’ll see.”
Justin Holl played Saturday in place of the injured Jeff Petry (day-to-day). He is expected to be ready to play Monday as well. Albert Johansson also made his NHL debut Saturday for Detroit, replacing Erik Gustafsson. He played 11:57 with two hits and a blocked shot.