Detroit calls up goalie Ville Husso under emergency conditions, providing depth for the team amid injury concerns
On Friday, the Detroit Red Wings summoned goaltender Ville Husso from the Grand Rapids Griffins due to emergency circumstances.
Husso has played in three games for the Griffins this season, boasting a record of 2-0-0, including one shutout, along with a goals-against average of 1.23 and a save percentage of .958. In his four appearances with Grand Rapids, Husso boasts a 3-0-0 record including two shutouts, a 0.87 goals-against average, and a .969 save percentage.
Husso has played in a single match with the Red Wings this season. In the previous season, the 29-year-old played only 19 NHL games with Detroit because of injury, posting a 9-5-2 record along with a 3.55 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage.
Husso made his Griffins debut last season on January 26 during a conditioning assignment, achieving a 25-save shutout against the Belleville Senators.
Husso was making his initial start after suddenly departing a match against the Springfield Thunderbirds due to an unspecified injury. Nonetheless, he definitely didn’t display any sluggishness.
The Wild burst out strong in the first period, recording 11 shots on goal compared to Grand Rapids’ two, but Husso was impressive, stopping every attempt.
During his six-year NHL tenure, the Helsinki, Finland, native has a total record of 69-41-16, boasting a 3.03 GAA and a .902 save percentage across 133 games. At the AHL level, Husso has recorded a 53-54-16 record with a 2.65 GAA and a .910 save percentage over 133 games.
The arrival of an NHL-quality goaltender paid off for the Grand Rapids Griffins in a recent afternoon hockey game.
In the Iowa Wild’s yearly School Day Game on Thursday, Ville Husso started as the Griffins snapped their three-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory. The Griffins managed to secure the upper hand due to their special teams’ efforts, especially when they were shorthanded.
Nate Danielson assisted Alex Doucet for a shorthanded goal, his first in the AHL, with under five minutes left in the second period to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. Just over a minute after the Wild equalized the score once more, Sheldon Dries remained on fire with his third goal of the season, thanks to a fantastic effort from Dominik Shine, also shorthanded, to give GR its third lead of the day.
Grand Rapids faced ongoing penalty issues in the third period, but due to Husso’s performance and the penalty kill, they managed to hold off Iowa. Goals scored by Joe Snivley and Cross Hanas allowed the game to slip away.
Husso was undoubtedly the top performer of the match, saving 37 of the 39 shots he confronted on Thursday, securing his second victory of the season. For the 11th occasion this season, the Griffins faced more shots against them, with a 39-21 differential. Jesper Wallstedt suffered his third regulation defeat of the season after making 16 saves.
The Griffins were 0-for-4 on the power play, having not scored on their last 10 opportunities with the man advantage in the last three games. Admittedly, Hanas’ goal in the third occurred precisely as a penalty was about to expire.
Their penalty kill excelled in the victory, as they were scored on only once during seven chances. In the win, 11 distinct Griffins recorded points. Shai Buium, Josiah Didier, Austin Watson, and Elmer Soderblom also registered assists on Thursday.
Bradley Marek and Hunter Haight scored the goals for the Wild. The Griffins (7-3-1-0) have earned points in four out of their initial six away games. The Wild (3-7-1-0) experienced their initial regulation defeat after nearly two weeks.
Image Credit: Tim Fuller-Imagn Images
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