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Preparing for life without Nyquist |
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The Detroit Red Wings are getting used to preparing for the worst this season, so Monday, they went about their work expecting to be without forward Gus Nyquist for Wednesday’s game at Joe Louis Arena against the St. Louis Blues.
Nyquist faces a telephone hearing with NHL player safety over his high stick of Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon in the first period of Detroit’s 6-3 loss to the Wild on Sunday. Nyquist got up from the ice after being knocked down by a Spurgeon cross check and the blade of his stick struck Spurgeon squarely in the face.
Nyquist insists it was an accident.
“This is obviously not how I am as a player,” Nyquist said. “It’s a different situation to be in and I’m just glad he’s OK. We have a hearing tomorrow, a conference with everyone involved in the process and we’ll take it from there.”
Detroit coach Jeff Blashill understands had bad the video of the incident looks but believes Nyquist, and doesn’t think it was a deliberate high stick.
“One thing I can’t say emphatically enough is I’ve known Gus a long time and in no way possible was that an intentional act by him,” Blashill said. “I saw the optics on it, but there is no chance it was an intentional play by him.”
“Anybody that’s been around the league, anybody that’s played with him, anybody that’s coached him, they know that. I understand how the optics are and they’re going to have to do their jobs, I get that, but without question … you see the reaction as soon as it happened from Gus. Guys that are angry, that’s not how they react.”
Regardless, a player is responsible for his stick and that most certainly means that Nyquist can expect to be assessed some sort of suspension but the Wings were hopeful that based on his track record of clean play, the league’s disciplinarians would give Nyquist the benefit of the doubt.
“What you’re trying to argue is intent, whether it was intentional or not intentional, in any case when these things happen,” Blashill said. “With a clean record, with his penalty minutes, I think you can argue a very strong case that the intent wasn’t there.
“He’ll explain why his stick was in the position it was but the intent was not there. In other cases, because of guys’ records, it’s hard to argue that. In Nyquist’s case I think it’s an easy argument and a strong argument to say the intent wasn’t there.”
Anticipating disciplinary action, Blashill skated Tomas Tatar in Nyquist’s place on Detroit’s top line with Henrik Zetterberg and Anthony Mantha during Tuesday’s practice.
“We made preparations in case that happened,” Blashill said. “Obviously, I don’t have control of that.”
Nyquist admitted that his first experience with NHL discipline is proving to be an unnerving time.
“I haven’t been in this situation before,” Nyquist said. “It’s new for me. I hope people don’t think that’s the kind of player that I am.
“It’s different and it’s not fun. It won’t happen again, that’s for sure.”
Vanek Good To Go
While the Wings will likely lose one forward in Nyquist, they figure to welcome one back in left-winger Thomas Vanek, who expects to play Tuesday after missing Sunday’s game with an ankle injury.
“I hope so,” Vanek said. “I felt pretty good out there today. We’ll see how it reacts overnight and we’ll make the assessment tomorrow.”
Injured Saturday at Columbus, Vanek felt it was touch and go whether he could have played in Sunday’s game against the Wild, his former team.
“It sucked,” Vanek said. “Of course I wanted to play against them and do well but at the same time close isn’t good enough. It’s better to have someone out there that’s healthier. But yeah it was certainly disappointing.”
He’s Got The Blues
Petr Mrazek will get the start in goal on Tuesday and it’s fair to say that during his career, Mrazek has given St. Louis the blues.
In six career games against St. Louis, Mrazek is 4-1-0 with a 1.25 goals-against average, a .951 save percentage and one shutout. He made his NHL debut against the Blues, winning 5-1 Feb. 7, 2013 in St. Louis.
This season’s 2-1 shootout win Oct. 27 at St. Louis was Mrazek’s 50th NHL win and 100th career game. He shut out the Blues 3-0 April 13, 2014 at Scottrade Center, making 23 saves.
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