Following the Detroit Red Wings’ impressive 5–1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night, it’s becoming impossible to ignore what John Gibson is doing in net right now.
The veteran goaltender is officially on one of the hottest runs of his career.
With his 26-save performance against Winnipeg (allowing just one goal on 27 shots), Gibson has now improved to 17–2 in his last 19 games, and the numbers behind that stretch are downright dominant.
Gibson’s Last 19 Games
- Record: 17–2
- Shots Against: 547
- Saves: 509
- Goals Against: 38
- Save Percentage: .931
That’s elite, Vezina-level goaltending over a massive sample size.
For perspective, a .931 save percentage across 19 games isn’t just “hot.” It’s the kind of stretch that can completely change the trajectory of a season, and possibly a franchise.
From Rough Start to Red-Hot Finish
What makes this run even more remarkable is where Gibson started the year.
Early in the season, the numbers weren’t pretty. He struggled with consistency, gave up soft goals, and his save percentage hovered well below his career norms. At one point, questions were swirling about whether age, mileage, or confidence had finally caught up to him.
Fast forward a few months, and it’s a totally different story.
Gibson looks calm, explosive, and in complete control of his crease. He’s tracking pucks cleanly, swallowing rebounds, and making the kind of momentum-saving stops that swing games and entire homestands.
Saturday’s win over Winnipeg was another perfect example. The Jets pushed early, but Gibson slammed the door, allowing the Red Wings to settle in and eventually pull away for a convincing 5–1 victory.
At the Top of the Standings
At the time of this article, the Red Wings are tied for the most points in the Eastern Conference with 69, deadlocked with the Carolina Hurricanes through 53 games.
Let that sink in.
Detroit is no longer just a “fun story” or a “frisky playoff team.” With Gibson playing like this, they’re starting to look like a legitimate conference powerhouse.
Elite goaltending changes everything in the NHL. And right now, the Wings have exactly that.
If John Gibson keeps anything close to this pace, a .931 save percentage and a 17–2 run over 19 games, Detroit isn’t just thinking about making the playoffs.
They’re thinking about making noise.
