The Detroit Red Wings are starting to see the experienced, proven goaltender they were expecting when they signed Thomas Greiss in the offseason.
Greiss has strung together three solid starts, culminating with a 27-save performance Sunday in a 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena.
In four appearances since being pulled less than eight minutes into a 7-1 loss at Nashville on March 25, the 35-year-old has stopped 111-of-118 shots in 226 minutes (1.86 goals-against average, .941 save percentage).
The Red Wings will need more of that from Greiss the final five weeks of the season, especially if they trade Jonathan Bernier by the April 12 deadline.
“He was definitely really sharp today,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “Tampa has a ton of traffic and makes it hard around the cage and they shoot tons of pucks. I thought he did a great job of fighting through traffic and finding the puck. The puck was sticking to him, him freezing pucks. He didn’t create a whole lot of extra havoc. I thought from start to finish it was maybe his best game in a long time, maybe one of the best of the year.”
Greiss’ 3-15-5 record is in stark contrast to Bernier’s 8-6-0 mark. Bernier, out since March 18 with a lower-body injury, practiced on Friday and should return soon.
Whether or not Bernier remains a Red Wing, Greiss has much room to improve upon his season numbers (3.21 GAA, .895 save percentage). He had the misfortune of having to carry the load earlier this season when Bernier was injured and the team had five regulars on the COVID protocol list for multiple weeks. He also has received less offensive support than any goalie in the league.
“It’s always nice when you have a little goal support but playing well also helps,” Greiss said. “I thought I was just a little unlucky here and there.”
Stepping up in big moments, like he did with 12:50 remaining in the second period Sunday, helps. Greiss made a turning-point save on Steven Stamkos off a three-on-one-rush, when the sniper’s shot went off the goalie’s blocker and then the shaft of his stick, to preserve a 1-0 lead.
Shortly after, the Red Wings scored three goals in a span of 2:53 to break it open.
“Instead of being 1-1, it’s a totally different game,” Greiss said. “It was a big moment in the game.”
Said Blashill: “That’s the difference in winning and losing lots of times, you need big saves at big moments, and you need the goalie to stop the ones you’re supposed to stop, and he did both of those things today.”
Overall, it was one of the Red Wings’ best defensive efforts.
“It was as good a job as we’ve done all season of clogging up the neutral zone, especially in the second period,” Blashill said. “We did a good job of being above but tight on people, so we didn’t give them much space. We created turnovers. I thought in our own zone overall we were pretty good. They’re real active with a number of their players. We did a pretty good job of manning up and having people.
“We have to be a really good defensive team. That’s how you win in this league.”
That is especially how you win in Tampa Bay, and there has been no more difficult venue for Detroit over the past decade.
The Red Wings snapped a 17-game regular-season losing streak at Amalie Arena with their first win there since Feb. 17, 2011.
“Honestly, the past record, if (media) didn’t tell us we would have no idea,” Blashill said. “But certainly, we haven’t beaten these guys much, so having success against them feels good, especially the fact they’re as good as they are, the defending Stanley Cup champions.
“In the end for me, it’s about playing the right way and how the process went, and I thought our process was pretty good.”
Fabbri out: Robby Fabbri missed the game due to injury, which Blashill listed as day-to-day for now, saying he would know more on Tuesday, prior to the team hosting Nashville.
More: Red Wings stop decade-long futility streak
The Link LonkApril 05, 2021 at 05:04PM
https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2021/04/thomas-greiss-steps-up-will-be-key-for-red-wings-if-jonathan-bernier-moved.html
Thomas Greiss steps up, will be key for Red Wings if Jonathan Bernier moved - MLive.com
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