Oskar Sundqvist saw a lot of goaltender Ville Husso when both were in the St. Louis Blues organization, and Sundqvist watched as Husso carried the Blues for a large stretch of last season.
So, seeing Husso solidify the Red Wings’ net these days isn’t surprising for Sundqvist.
“No, not at all,” Sundqvist said. “He’s been starting the same way he kind of ended last season, with him carrying the team, basically.”
Husso and Alex Nedeljkovic were supposed to be getting an equal amount of games and sharing the Red Wings’ goaltending load until one of them essentially pulled away.
That was expected to be a little later in the season. But judging from the recent schedule, it appears Husso is beginning to establish himself as the starter.
Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime loss in Anaheim was Husso’s 10th game of the season (5-2-3), with a 2.56 goals-against average and .918 save percentage. The numbers tower over Nedeljkovic’s start, thus far, (2-3-1, 4.33 GAA, .873 SVS) — although, in Nedeljkovic’s defense, he’s been the victim of some of the Wings’ poorer games this season.
One of the reasons — arguably, the key reason for the Wings’ positive start — is because of Husso’s work in net.
“Ville has been our best player,” coach Derek Lalonde said after last week’s loss to the New York Rangers. “He’s been our MVP.”
Sundqvist saw something similar last season in St. Louis, when Husso took over the starting role after Jordan Binnington struggled with the Blues.
Husso was inexperienced at the NHL level, but stepped in and stabilized the Blues and helped them into the playoffs.
Husso finished last season with a 25-7-6 record, with a 2.56 GAA and .919 SVS.
“We all were a little bit surprised how good he was last season,” Sundqvist said. “Especially, because it’s hard for a guy like him to come in and who hasn’t played that many games in the NHL, never been a starter and taking over that position and doing what he did.
“That surprised a lot of people, and it shows his talent, and how hard he’s worked to get to where he is. I’m happy for him. He gives you an opportunity (to win), making all those big saves when you need them. It gives you a chance to win every night.
“It’s been nice to be on the same team as him.”
Husso, 27, spent four seasons in the minor leagues before reaching the NHL. But it wasn’t until last season in St. Louis that Husso fully grasped what it took to be a successful, consistent goaltender.
Specifically, Husso learned how to practice the right way.
“Just, like, there is no day off,” Husso said of the mindset he learned. “You always try to improve something in your game. Maybe you’re a little tired, but like there is no day off. It’s a mentality. That’s the biggest thing.”
As a younger goalie, Husso felt he possibly didn’t have the focus he does right now.
“You try to bring that same energy for the games,” Husso said. “In practice, you try and focus every day. Right now, the team has been playing well in front of me, and that’s a big part of it. Blocking shots, battling, all of that.”
After the Wings acquired Husso’s rights (he could have been an unrestricted free agent last summer), they quickly signed Husso to a three-year contract worth $14.25 million ($4.75 million per year cap hit). Husso was excited about the Wings’ offseason moves, the young talent, and felt this would be a good fit.
“It’s a historic team,” Husso said of the Wings’ success and tradition. “Everything happened so quick (close to the trade). I was just waiting (for which team he’d wind up with). I was excited to come here.
“It’s a new (different) system and things are a little different (in front of him), but we’ve seen how the guys defend and how hard they play and it’s kind of easier for me to adjust. It’s still up to me to make the save.”
Block party
The Wings were credited with 25 blocked shots in Tuesday’s game against Anaheim, maintaining what has been one of the team’s strengths this season.
The Wings ranked fifth in the NHL (275) in total blocks, adapting to the commitment of showing selflessness in order to win games.
Captain Dylan Larkin believes it’s becoming a part of the Wings’ identity.
“That’s something we’ve built this year; it’s been everybody,” Larkin said. ” Guys are doing a great job, guys are putting it all on the line, and you’ve seen that through (Filip) Zadina, and Bert (Tyler Bertuzzi), and Elmer (Soderblom), guys that we need in the lineup, but they’ve put their bodies on the line, and we’re really showing each other that we care and we want to win.
“That’s about all you can control in hockey — your effort and how much you care — so it’s great tosee every night that we’re blocking shots.”
Bertuzzi returned Tuesday after missing a month recovering from fracturing his hand while blocking a shot. Zadina is out close to two months after blocking a shot, and Soderblom is day-to-day, also because of blocking a shot.
Too risky
Lalonde wants to see the Wings play a safer, smarter game Thursday in San Jose.
The Wings watched as the Ducks tied Tuesday’s game in the final minute of regulation time, then won it in overtime after a Bertuzzi turnover in front of Husso’s net.
“We had a really good start to our season and we have been competitive in this league because we take risk out of our game,” Lalonde said. “But, unfortunately, a couple times in the third (period) and especially in overtime, we got away from that.”
The Wings had to kill four Anaheim penalties in the third period, which Lalonde said upset the Wings’ rhythm.
“They were pretty bad penalties, were all legit penalties,” Lalonde said. “A couple retaliation penalties, a penalty 200 feet from our net, and it just took us out of our game. We had a good flow to our game through two periods, and, unfortunately, we didn’t manage our third very well.”
Red Wings at Sharks
▶ Faceoff: 10:30 p.m. Thursday, SAP Center, San Jose
▶ TV/radio: Bally Sports Detroit/97.1 FM
▶ Outlook: The Sharks (6-9-3) were living near the bottom of the NHL standings until suddenly winning three consecutive games. San Jose rallied Tuesday in Vegas to defeat the Golden Knights, 5-2, and the Sharks have struggled on home ice (1-5-3). D Erik Karlsson is turning back the clock in his career with a brilliant start (10 goals, 14 assists) and C Tomas Hertl (11 assists) is always a threat.
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan