If Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson would have played in October like he has in December and January, he might be headed to Italy for the Olympics in February.

No NHL goalie has played better than Gibson over the past 47 days. He’s currently on a six-game winning streak and his record is 15-2 with a 2.12 goals-against average, a 0.926 save percentage and three shutouts in 17 games since Dec. 6.

If you look at his overall numbers, they fit with statistics owned by American Olympic goalies Jake Oettinger, Connor Hellebuyck and Jeremy Swayman. Pittsburgh native Gibson has the best record of 19-9-1 and he’s tops in shutouts. His 2.74 GAA fits comfortably with Oettinger’s 2.69, Jeremy Swayman’s 2.74 and Hellebuyck’s 2.76. Gibson’s overall stats are more impressive when you factor he struggled early while adjusting to his new team. The Red Wings traded for him in the offseason.

“He’s just keeping everything in front of him (now),” Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said. “And he’s always been calm, even through the tough nights, where it seems like whatever he did and whatever we did, we couldn’t get a win for him. And I talked to him. He felt like it was going to turn for him, and he stayed patient.”

Gibson has given up three goals or fewer in 15 of his last 16 starts.

“He seems very locked in mentally,” Larkin said. “Next puck, next play…he seems to be battling for us.”

Slow Start

Even if Gibson had been sharp right from the beginning of the season, he still may not have been one of the U.S. Olympic goalies. The selectors also include the athletes career body of work. It’s hard to argue with Hellebuyck’s three Vezina trophies or Jeremy Swayman playing brilliantly to lead the Americans to a gold medal at the 2025 World Championships. It was USA’s first world hockey title in 92 years. Even Oettinger has a 166-76-31 career record.

Because Gibson played in Anaheim before coming to Detroit, he hasn’t played many important games over the last few years. He hasn’t been in the NHL playoffs since 2017-18.

In Detroit, he needed time to find his rhythm.

“I think it was just being consistent and finding my game on a nightly basis,” Gibson said. “Kind of getting in my groove and playing my game. Obviously, it wasn’t the start I wanted, but it’s a long season and just try to be patient and put the work in and I knew it was going to change eventually.”