— Jim Devellano stood with some writers in the visitors’ dressing room in Buffalo after the Red Wings beat the Sabres, 2-1, on Nov. 23.
Approaching the Thanksgiving week marker, when management takes stock of playoff hopes for the club, the Red Wings did not instill confidence.
But their goalie did.
Perhaps 15 feet from Devellano, having just stopped 32 of the Sabres’ 33 shots, Jimmy Howard pulled off the pads.
As he watched, Devellano said what Red Wings fans had likely concluded. With the club having designated Petr Mrazek the top goalie two months earlier and the expansion draft looming, it was clear.