Detroit Red Wings coach Todd McLellan named Daniil Tarasov the starting goaltender for Tuesday’s game against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena.
The announcement gives usual starter John Gibson a night off as the Red Wings begin a four-game Western Conference road trip. Detroit entered the contest at 3-3-2 and looking for a third straight win after dropping five of its first six games.
McLellan said after Monday’s practice that Tarasov would get the nod.
“Daniil Tarasov starts in goal for the Detroit Red Wings tonight against the Seattle Kraken coach Todd McLellan said after Monday’s practice.”
The coach added that remaining goaltending decisions on the trip would factor in travel and rest.
“McLellan said the remaining goaltending assignments on the trip will be decided with travel and fatigue in mind.”
Gibson has started six of Detroit’s eight games and holds a 2-3-1 record with a 3.58 goals-against average and .873 save percentage. He was between the pipes Saturday in a 4-3 shootout victory over San Jose.
Tarasov has appeared in three games, starting two of them. He is 1-0-1 with a 0.80 goals-against average, a .965 save percentage and one shutout. He has stopped 55 of 57 shots faced.
His first Red Wings start came Oct. 10 in Montreal, where he turned aside all 30 shots before Detroit lost in a shootout. Four nights later he made 17 saves on 18 shots in a 2-1 win over Philadelphia.
Tarasov is winless in four career games against Seattle, posting a 0-3-0 record, a 4.77 goals-against average and an .830 save percentage. On Oct. 9 he entered in relief of Gibson in Detroit and stopped eight of nine shots in a 6-3 loss to the Kraken. Frederick Gaudreau scored twice for Seattle that night.
Seattle, 5-3-1, is expected to start Philipp Grubauer. The 34-year-old German is 2-1-1 with a 2.71 goals-against average and .910 save percentage. He made 37 saves in the Oct. 9 meeting and is 5-1-1 with a 2.40 goals-against average and .919 save percentage in seven career starts against Detroit.
Tarasov was born March 27, 1999, in Novokuznetsk, Russia. His father, Vadim, played goal professionally. Tarasov won a bronze medal with Russia at the 2019 World Junior Championships.
Columbus selected him in the third round, 86th overall, of the 2017 NHL Draft. The Blue Jackets traded him to the Florida Panthers on June 26, 2025, in exchange for a fifth-round pick.
With Florida last season he went 13-15-3 in 33 games, recording a 3.05 goals-against average and .895 save percentage. Across 101 NHL games he owns a 33-49-10 career record.
Detroit has points in four consecutive games and will face Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton after Tuesday’s contest. The club played seven of its first eight games at home.
