from Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now,

Ville Hussos consistently strong play is making the case that he should be the Detroit Red Wings No. 1 goaltender.

Husso posted a season-best 33 saves to lead the Red Wings to a 3-1 win against the Washington Capitals. That lowered his goals-against average to 2.17 and raised his save percentage to .934. He is 4-1-1 this season.

The Red Wings plan was to rotate goalies until someone seized the starting job. That time may soon be here. Husso has given up one or no goals in four of his six appearances this season.

But Detroit coach Derek Lalonde isnt quite ready to commit to a No. 1.

Its hard to say, Lalonde said. Obviously, hes played very well. (But) it doesnt take a trained eye to see a difference in what the two goalies have faced. Unfortunately its just the way its played out. Nedos been put in some bad situations in those road games. I have to watch it back, get some feedback from Alex Westlund our goalie coach and make an evaluation decision for Saturday.

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from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,

As they turn their attention to their next game, the Detroit Red Wings have a clear memory of what works.

They improved to 5-3-2 on the strength of a furious effort over the final few minutes of Thursday's 3-1 victory against the Washington Capitals, when Andrew Copp scored, Ville Husso and the penalty killers nixed a six-on-four advantage, and Dylan Larkin found an empty net with 28 seconds on the clock.

"Those are huge momentum situations," coach Derek Lalonde said. "Our goal is to put ourselves in those type of situations more and more. And we have put ourselves in those situations. And the more you execute and succeed in those situations, it just builds going forward."...

The Wings have won four of their six home games this season, able to take advantage of matchups that they can't get when they have the last change on the road. Copp, buoyed by the confidence of having finally scored 10 games into the season, noted what stood out Thursday.

"The willingness to get in front of shots," he said. "That was A-plus, how hard we competed, how hard we battled. If we bring that type of effort and we work on our execution, then we can become a really good team in this league, but that work ethic, that comes first.

"Execution-wise, weve got a ways to go. We have to be a lot cleaner with the puck, especially breaking out of our zone. That will come with time and more games and more practices, to understand exactly where guys are going to be. When we break up a play defensively, we have to turn to offense quickly, or else were passing to no one, kind of. So execution-wise, we have a ways to go, but the effort and willingness its hockey."

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re Copp: " but that work ethic, that comes first. "

 - baring anymore (long term) injuries, imo, this team can make a serious run the playoffs if they're willing to work for it. we're going to see what Lalonde is made of.

o/t: break out year on track for Ras, he was the catalyst for that empty netter.