'Every game and day matters'

DETROIT -- After Detroit Red Wings goalie Ville Husso makes a big save at Little Caesars Arena, Husso gets serenaded with an unmistakable chant from the Hockeytown faithful.
"Huuuss."

And for Husso, hearing thousands of fans call his name has given him "a little extra energy" during his debut season with the Red Wings.
"It's been a good time," Husso said on Dec. 12. "Easy to adjust here after being in St. Louis. Of course, there's been times when I've had to learn new stuff, but it's been great so far."

Through his first 22 games this season, Husso made a significant impact between the pipes for Detroit. As of Dec. 20, the 27-year-old goaltender had an 11-6-5 record with a 2.66 goals-against average and .913 save percentage.
On Thanksgiving Eve, Husso posted a 26-save shutout in Detroit's 3-0 win over the Nashville Predators, joining Hap Holmes (1926-27) and Dolly Dolson (1928-29) as just the third Red Wings goaltender with at least three shutouts prior to his 15th appearance with the franchise.
"We are a confident group in front of him," head coach Derek Lalonde said after Husso's shutout on Nov. 23. "We don't want to get into a situation where we need him to bail us out."
Husso, who was the St. Blues' 94th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, did not make his first NHL start until Jan. 24, 2021. After starting just 15 games in the 2020-21 campaign, Husso embraced a larger role with St. Louis last season by compiling a 25-7-6 record with a 2.56 GAA and .919 save percentage in 40 regular-season games.
The Red Wings acquired the Finnish netminder via trade from St. Louis in July, exchanging a third-round pick (73rd overall) in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft for Husso. Shortly after the deal was announced, Detroit signed Husso to a three-year contract.
"Last year, I played well enough to get more games," Husso said. "I learned a lot from last year. When I came in this year, I just used the mindset that every game and day matters."

Husso also posted a 3.67 GAA and .890 save percentage, including one shutout, in seven Stanley Cup Playoffs games for the Blues last season, who were eliminated by the eventual 2022 Stanley Cup-champion Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the postseason.
"It's a different game for a goalie when you jump in for a playoff game,"

"A lot of ups and downs during a game. You need to be mentally strong, so I think that's the biggest thing I learned last year."
It's a guiding approach, according to Husso, that will only continue to evolve.
"I learned a lot, especially when I was young, that whatever happens in the game you need to try to be the same and be calm," Husso said. "That's something that I feel that I've gotten better at myself."
Husso displayed that calm demeanor against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec. 6, making 28 third-period saves to preserve a 4-2 road win. As of Dec. 20, Husso allowed two or fewer goals in nine of his 11 victories with the Red Wings.
"I feel like in this league, you can win against any team when you play at your own level," Husso said on Dec. 6. "That's something we wanna do night after night."
When asked about Husso's best qualities, Lalonde quickly summarized the former fourth-round pick.
"A quiet leader is a good way to describe him," Lalonde said on Dec. 8. "When he's at his best, he's calm and not giving up rebounds. He's been a really huge part of our success early on."

A former goalie at State University of New York College at Cortland, Lalonde said while the level of competition he faced isn't comparable, his experience helps understand the basics of what it takes for players like Husso to be successful in the NHL.
"I was playing against (SUNY) Potsdam, Geneseo and Oswego," Lalonde said with a smile on Dec. 12. "That's a lot different than playing against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers. But playing the position in college, I feel I do have a sense for the position. Whether that's how practice is designed or communicating with them (goalies), I do think some of that has helped me with those guys."