Who is goalie Alex Lyon? The Hurricanes keeper beat the Blues in Raleigh on Saturday
There are a few things to know about goalie Alex Lyon, who made his first start for the Carolina Hurricanes a winning one Saturday in a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues.
Among them:
▪ He played college hockey at Yale, where he was an All-American and a top-10 finalist for the 2016 Hobey Baker Award.
▪ He once had 94 saves in a Calder Cup playoff game against the Charlotte Checkers, which wasn’t an American Hockey League record.
▪ He had won before at PNC Arena, beating the Canes for the Philadelphia Flyers.
It’s interesting that Canes center Sebastian Aho, who had a goal and assist Saturday, described Lyon as a positive guy who is “always in a good mood.” Moments later, Lyon told the media he can be “fickle” and someone “as moody as they come.”
But he’s a goalie, yes? Sometimes, it can be complicated. And especially for a goalie trying to work his way into the NHL and stick with a team.
The Philadelphia Flyers gave him a chance out of Yale, signing him in 2016. Lyon played 22 games in four seasons for the Flyers, beating the Canes on March 17, 2018. Two months later, he was in net for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Flyers’ AHL team, topping the Checkers 2-1 in a playoff game in Charlotte that went five grueling overtimes.
Michael Leighton, a former Canes goalie, set the AHL record with 98 saves in a 2008 game with the Albany River Rats. Lyon stopped the last 79 shots in his win as he bested Checkers goalie Alex Nedeljkovic.
Alex Lyon one-and-done?
Lyon’s appearance Saturday for the Canes (11-2-0) was, at least for now, a one-and-done. Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour wanted to give goalie Frederik Andersen a break. Antti Raanta continued to recover from a concussion that resulted in the Canes recalling Lyon from the Chicago Wolves of the AHL.
He was sent back to Chicago on Sunday afternoon, but Saturday, it was Lyon’s time, and the Minnesota native made the most of it.
He scrambled in the crease at times, but also was calm and sharp at times, making some of his best saves when the Canes were shorthanded. He allowed a power-play goal to Pavel Buchnevich, but stopped eight power-play shots by the Blues, an attacking team that outshot the Canes 29-24.
Defenseman Brendan Smith’s goal with 2:57 left in regulation pushed the Canes ahead 3-2, but the Blues then pulled rookie goalie Joel Hofer for a sixth attacker. The Canes held strong in the defensive zone, clearing the puck, and soon were lining up to congratulate Lyon on his seventh career NHL victory.
“Coming up to the NHL is something I’ve battled for a long time, just trying to find my way,” Lyon said. “I think I’m good enough to play up here.”
At the same time, Lyon, 28, said that each game he does play in the NHL, “It gets a little easier.” He likes playing for Brind’Amour, saying, “I’ve been around some very good coaching staffs but I would say Rod is probably as good as it gets.”
Lyon said he also has enjoyed his time working with Canes goalie coach Paul Schonfelder and the conversations they have had.
“Paul and I speak the same language,” Lyon said. “He’s a really intuitive, intelligent human and I find myself gravitating towards him. As a goalie and a goalie coach, that relationship can be either nonexistent or it can be super strong. As of today, I like him, but who knows if I have a bad practice or something.”
Who knows what the future holds? Lyon could rejoin the Canes on their upcoming six-game road trip, or stay in Chicago and go back to work with the Wolves.
For players like Lyon, it remains a battle as they try to find their way.
This story was originally published November 14, 2021 at 1:16 PM.
