Masterton nomination is a long time coming for Detroit goaltender Alex Lyon
Goaltender Alex Lyon has bounced around several NHL teams and minor-league squads. This season, at the age of 31, he was supposed to be in Grand Rapids, the Red Wings’ minor-league affiliate, as depth in the organization.
A vagabond existence, to be sure.
So, it’s taken everyone by surprise that, mainly through injuries — and Lyon’s own excellent play — that he heads into the final days of the regular season as the Wings’ starting goaltender, and he’s having a career-best season.
For that type of perseverance and dedication to hockey, Lyon has been nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy by the Detroit chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
The Masterton is presented to the player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication of hockey.” The winner will be announced at the NHL Awards Show in June. Two Wings have won the Masterton: Brad Park (1984) and Steve Yzerman (2003).
Lyon was surprised, but honored, by the nomination.
“It’s been a long path for me and there’s been a lot of times where I didn’t necessarily know what was going to happen,” Lyon said. “I guess I just feel proud because I always tried to fight and continue to do the right things and continue to trot out a good attitude.
“It was really difficult, at times.”
When the Wings signed Lyon last summer as an unrestricted free agent, coach
Derek Lalonde said the plan was for Lyon to be in Grand Rapids, likely being a mentor for top prospect Sebastian Cossa.
But given the goaltending injuries around the NHL early in the season, and Detroit’s own difficulties at the position last season, the Wings decided to keep Lyon on the NHL roster, along with Ville Husso and James Reimer, given they had room in the salary cap.
It’s turned out to be a terrific decision. Husso has been inconsistent and bothered by injuries, and Reimer has had his own streakiness. Lyon, on the other hand, has played in 39 games (matching his total in stops in Philadelphia, Carolina and Florida) with a 19-16-4 record, 3.00 goalsagainst average and .907 save percentage.
“He’s been remarkable for us,” Lalonde said. “We’re sitting here battling for a playoff position and our No. 1 goalie is on the shelf. It speaks volumes for him as an individual, where he is in his career. He was signed to be our starter in Grand Rapids and here he is giving us a chance this late in the season.”
Lyon is from Baudette, Minn., a town of about 900 people on the Canadian border. His graduating class had 35 students. Lyon hopes his story might inspire another youngster from Baudette, or any other small town.
“It gives you a different perspective on life,” Lyon said. “I grew up kind of weird, a little naive, not really one of the cool kids in the hockey scene. But it was really good too, because I continue to have a massive chip on my shoulder.”
Making a difference
Heading into Friday’s game, the Wings were 2-2-2 (six of 12 points earned) since captain Dylan Larkin returned to the lineup on March 21.
They’re 4-10-0 without Larkin this season.
The splits are alarming, as Lalonde said earlier this week, but it simply reflects the difference at both ends of the rink Larkin makes.
“We’re a .600-plus win percentage team when he’s in the lineup and we, I won’t use the word awful, but we have not been very good when he’s been out,” Lalonde said. “You can see it. He’s a very special player for us. You see the way we’re built and designed. We’re not there yet with the luxury of a lot of depth up the middle. You don’t have to be a hockey genius to see what your centers look like with Larkin in and out (of the lineup).
“It’s just interesting with matchups, it changes the whole dynamic when he’s in the lineup.”
Hot ticket
How popular was game against Rangers?
You could tell by the ticket demand in the locker room.
“Probably the easiest indication of that is everyone’s asking for tickets and nobody has extras to give away,” said forward Christian Fischer, regarding family and friends asking. “Every player will probably be buying a couple of extra tickets on Friday.”
Fischer, who has played in Arizona for the majority of his career, is enjoying the Original Six home team crowd vibe.
“We’ve been playing really well at home and it’s fun to hear that crowd,” Fischer said. “We feel it. That first game when Dylan came back (6-3 victory on March 21) was one of the coolest experiences for a lot of us in the room, just to experience the crowd chanting his name. You could kind of feel Detroit start coming alive.”
Friday’s the