The performance by Detroit Red Wings goalie Michal Postava in his first NHL start, as he downed Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on the road was impressive.

“Postava, we’re so excited for him and happy for him,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan told reporters after the game. “Sometimes that’s how it happens. A goalie gets a start such as this one and plays really well and gets the win.

It was also rare.

Since 1990, only 12 homegrown goalies have made their NHL debut between the posts for the Red Wings. Postava was just the fifth among that group to earn the win in his first NHL start. He’s just the third Detroit goalie to do so since 2005.

The Red Wings have seen a bright future ahead for Postava since they signed him as an undrafted free agent in the summer of 2025. He was stalwart and consistent last season with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins. Postava took things up another notch in his stinginess so far this season.

When he was called up, Cossa was 4-0 with a 1.25 GAA and .954 save percentage for the Griffins.

“He may be smaller than some of the monsters that are in the league right now, but he is very athletic,” McLellan said. “We think that he anticipates so well he can read where the shot release is going. He gets into position, and then there’s not a lot that lays around after.”

In the win, Postava stopped all three shots he faced in the shootout, including the one from NHL scoring leader McDavid.

“Yeah, it’s crazy,” Postava told reporters. “Like, he’s one of the best players that ever played. And I’m just happy now and don’t have words.”

Red Wings Not Known For Growing Their Own Goalies

Historically, the Red Wings are big spenders when it comes to goalies. They sign UFAs. They trade for high-end talent.

Homegrown puckstoppers are few and far between in Hockeytown. Postava is the first one to make his first NHL start for Detroit since Jared Coreau. On December 3, 2016, Coreau suffered a 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Postava is the first Red Wings goalie to win his first NHL start in a Detroit uniform since fellow Czech goalie Petr Mrazek beat the St. Louis Blues 5-1 on February 7, 2013.

Jimmy Howard (Nov. 28, 2005, 5-2 win vs. the Los Angeles Kings), Norm Maracle (March 17, 1996, 4-3 win vs. Edmonton) and Kevin Hodson (January 6, 1996, 3-0 win vs. the Chicago Blackhawks) also were winners when they made their first NHL start for the Red Wings.

Chris Osgood and the Red Wings fell 6-3 to the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 15, 1993, in his first NHL start. Scott King got his first NHL start for the Red Wings on January 28, 1991, against the New Jersey Devils. He didn’t figure in the decision as Detroit lost 6-2.

Sebastian Cossa (December 9, 2024 vs. the Buffalo Sabres), Tom McCollum (March 30, 2011 vs. St. Louis), Kaden Fulcher (April 6, 2019 vs. Buffalo), and Dave Gagnon (January 26, 1991 vs. St. Louis) all made their NHL debuts with Detroit in relief appearances. None of them ever started an NHL game for the Red Wings.

Cossa actually got the win against the Sabres in his NHL bow.