Axel Sandin-Pellikka, John Gibson, Todd McLellan Post Game Comments @ VAN | Dec. 8, 2025

Axel Sandin-Pellikka, John Gibson, Todd McLellan Post Game Comments @ VAN | Dec. 8, 2025

Axel uh second straight win to continue this road trip. What did you like most about the way you guys played tonight? Uh I think uh um played pretty solid. Uh first period was a little back and forth. Uh they got got a lot of chances, but I still think we we fought through it and uh we got our scoring chances and we we capitalized. So I think that’s the main for you tonight. Uh how did what did you see when those players were developing and how have you balanced that offense defense in the league so far? Uh yeah, I mean uh um just trying to join the rush there. Um get get a cat to see me uh see me going down um like the doll in there. Uh and then uh I think Cop would probably kill me if I didn’t pass it to him. It was wide open. So uh it wasn’t wasn’t much thought behind that. How much did confidence you guys feel playing with Gibson behind you? He obviously had a big night tonight. Yeah, I mean he’s uh he was unbelievable. Uh yeah, I felt like no one could score on him. He had some really huge saves. So, uh um yeah, I mean, incredible. Um it’s not much else to say. You guys had that three nothing lead going into the third. What allowed you guys to keep your foot on the gas and keep them off the scoreboard there at the end? Uh I think just um continue to play hockey like we uh we don’t hold back anything and just try to defend the lead. Uh we try to go out there and um you know, play simple hockey, but still, you know, play with the puck and and be in there sound. So, uh I think that’s the that’s the main part. Points in five straight. You guys feel like there’s a little bit of momentum here right now? Uh yeah, a little bit like uh the start of the season in there. Um you know, we want to keep building on this and um we have a good feeling in this group. So uh yeah, I want to keep going. Is that I mean Giby’s been around a long time. Was that the best you guys have seen so far this season? Uh I mean he’s been good. Uh but uh uh yeah, today was on another level. um some what do you call them like uh TV saves uh was going to see on the highlights after after the game. So uh yeah it was uh he was incredible. Gibby, I want to start with your performance tonight. First shut out with the wings. Uh how did that feel for you to reach that and what did you feel out there tonight? Yeah, it was good. I mean anytime you can uh get a shut out it’s it’s nice. Uh it’s not just a solo effort. Guys did a good job in front of me. Forwards blocking shots. D were clearing out the rebounds and bodies in front of the net. So it was a team effort. Caught some big goals there in the second, kind of keep the momentum on our side and then shut it down there in the third. Penalty kill stepped up again tonight and you had some big saves too. I guess the defenseman, like you talk about the guys in front of you, how big were their efforts blocking shots off? Yeah, I mean they’re just in the lanes and when they’re not in the lanes, they’re moving guys in front of me, making my job easier and uh it was a good team effort. Another win for the group too on this road trip. What can you feel the confidence building as this group continues? Yeah, I mean I think we’re I think we’re kind of getting into a rhythm here. Obviously, we still got only halfway through and got three three big ones left, but just uh kind of build off this one and take it into the back to back coming up. Nebraska in the back door. I mean, moments like that, bang bang saves on the power play. What’s Yeah, I mean, you’re going to need big saves throughout a game to to win, especially when you’re man down on the on the power play. So, I was fortunate to get my pat on it and keep it up. I remember covering your first one here. Um you’ve had a lot of success against these guys in your career. Can can you find comfort whether it’s against the team or in a building familiar? Yeah, I don’t know. I’ve been asked that a few times. I really don’t know, but like I said, I I I don’t take it for granted. I I feel very fortunate to play here so many times and have some success and hopefully I can keep it going. Like Cam grabbed that puck for you, too. Like, does this mean a little something extra to get? Yeah, it was cool. I mean, first one, I’m not much of a milestone guy, but I think when I’m all done and can look back on it, that nice cool keepsake and something I can look back on. You feel like getting a little momentum, too, like back to back start. Yeah, just trying to try to get in my rhythm. I feel like it’s obviously a little slower start, but uh recently I’m feeling like I’m getting my game back into my groove and feeling good. A lot of changes. I mean, you haven’t been before, right? Is that uh Yeah. I mean, it was just I don’t know. I If I had a easy fix for it, I would have done it by now. But just put in the work, put in the time, and I feel like I’m getting back to my game and feeling comfortable in the net. Thanks, Todd. A shut out win for you guys tonight. What stood out the most about the way you guys finished this one out? Uh Gibson, uh I thought he played well from, you know, the minute 1 to minute 60. Uh took us a while to get our our legs and get going and he saved our bacon in in the first. Thought the second we started to settle down a little bit and then made a few mistakes in the third, but um uh he was there for us. Um and then uh the offense got him enough and found a way to leave with points. Speaking of the offense, JBR, Cop, Danielson, they got on scoreboard. secondary scoring. The way that they scored though, getting to at those puck battles, that the way you want to see more of getting that done? Well, they’re Vancouver’s tough to play against in there. They they defend real well. Um their goalender gave them a chance and you’re probably not going to beat them on tic-tac-toe plays, so it’s going to be those feeder shots with tips, deflections, screens. Um Danny’s goal, for example. Um you know, so we’re we’re happy we got the secondary scoring. We can’t keep relying on three or four guys. and when they’re having dry nights, somebody else has to pick up the slack. And tonight was the case. You guys have picked up points in each of these road games on this road trip. Have you seen a theme emerge from any of these three or a commonality between them all? Um, you know what? They’ve all been played a little bit different. We’ve had to come back in two. We’ve had to hold the lead in this one. Um, shootout scenario. So, everything’s been a little bit different. Um, special teams for us. The penalty kill was huge, led by Gibby again tonight. And um yeah, every night’s been different. JVR scored a lot in this league, but he’s on a heel right now for you right now. He sure is. Um a lot of poise with the puck. Um you know, we I I think the coaches and managers, even players talk about individuals where the puck follows them around the rink, and that’s JVR. He just knows where to go and the puck seems to find him as much as he finds it. And then he’s got a real sense of calm around the net with his hands and can outweight a lot of goalenders and we’re happy to have him right now. You’ve been going back and forth with the goalies at least for a little bit here. Was there anything like Gibson has a history here? Did that go at all into going back to him? Um Gibby played really well in Seattle and um we have been going back and forth. When we get a goalie that plays a what we think is a strong game, we try and reward him with the next one. And um that was Giby’s case. But look, we’re going to play when we have five sets of back to backs coming up in the next 25 days. Like they’re both going to play and we have both of them ready.

Axel Sandin-Pellikka, John Gibson, and Todd McLellan speak with the media following Detroit’s game against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday December 8, 2025.