![\"Todd](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/620682.webp.webp\" "\\"Todd")
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Photo credit: NHL.com<\/p>\n
The Detroit Red Wings’ head coach, Todd McLellan, may have a tough side, but after the team’s recent win, we saw his soft side, a rarity.<\/p>\n
After a recent game against the Boston Bruins, we saw goaltender John Gibson win his first game in the NHL since November 13th.<\/p>\n
The team would win 5-4 over an Atlantic Division rival, and the veteran goaltender would come in clutch, making 34 saves, a high for Gibson in 2025.<\/p>\n
He stayed disciplined and proved he’s still capable of delivering wins.<\/p>\n
There’s been a lot of discussion regarding his viability as a long-term option for the team as a good goaltender behind a bad Anaheim Ducks team for the majority of his career.<\/p>\n
After his recent play, the narrative changed, and Head Coach Todd McLellan exposed a soft side by talking up John Gibson, something we don’t see too often after a win.<\/p>\n
Gibson earned the victory outright:<\/p>\n
“There were some really tough saves and there were periods of nothing, and the game was under control, and then it wasn’t,\u00bb McLellan said. \u00abSo, it was a very much a roller coaster-type game for a goaltender to play in. At the end of the night, he got the win, so it can’t do anything but help his confidence, the team’s confidence. I’m happy for him.”<\/p>\n
“It’s been a while since he got one (a win), and I’m happy for him.” <\/p>\n
This is a great development for the Red Wings, and a coach who has been unhappy with their performance lately. It’s a nice change in pace.<\/p>\n
Goaltender John Gibson’s pivotal performance against the Boston Bruins<\/p>\n
John Gibson made 34 saves on 38 shots against the Boston Bruins in that game during the heated Original Six matchup.<\/p>\n
He’d end the night with a .895 save percentage, and increased his overall save percentage to .868 for the year.<\/p>\n