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Quincey out; Zetterberg, Pulkkinen doubtful for Wings |
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The Detroit Red Wings may be without as many as three players as they take to the ice Monday to face the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center.
Defenseman Kyle Quincey (undisclosed injury) will miss his third successive game, while captain Henrik Zetterberg (upper body injury) is listed as doubtful and forward Teemu Pulkkinen (leg) will take the warm-up and see if he is able to answer the bell.
The Wings are preparing for the game as if Zetterberg won’t be available.
“We will miss him,” left-winger Tomas Tatar said. “He’s one of the leaders on the team and obviously it’s a loss if he won’t play. But just like last year we have to dig in and we have to somehow find a way to win without him.”
Zetterberg missed much of the second half of last season after undergoing back surgery. At the same time the Wings were also minus Pavel Datsyuk due to a knee injury, but the positive outcome was that it gave players like center Riley Sheahan an opportunity to get more experience playing against the opposition’s top players.
“Exactly, it’s like last year when those guys were out,” Tatar said. “We have to step up and fill the spot and fill the role and start to somehow find a way to win.
“So now it’s a chance, it’s like a sliding chart and some guys can take his role and try to be leaders and others guys have to take those guys’ jobs.
“It’s like a ladder and we have to climb it.”
In all likelihood, Datsyuk will square off against Ryan Getzlaf and Anaheim’s top line, while Sheahan would work as the second center and duel with Ryan Kesler, though absent of the last line change on the road, the Wings won’t be able to control those match-ups as easily.
Whoever he’s up against, Sheahan figures he’ll be ready for the challenge.
“Yeah, I’m definitely totally comfortable in that position,” Sheahan said. “It’ll be challenge, definitely a good opportunity.
“Obviously if Z is out one of the centermen is going to have to step in. You’ve got to be a little more responsible playing against probably one of the top lines and at the same time you’ve got to be maybe looking at creating offense.”
Sheahan has played frequently in the second-line center role this season when Detroit coach Mike Babcock has opted to play Zetterberg and Datsyuk together on the top forward line.
“It’s something that’s happened before and last year as well,” Sheahan said. “It’ll be fun to be playing at that level and it’ll be a challenge but it’ll be something to embrace. It switches things a little bit, so it’ll be good.”
Whether he finds himself against Getzlaf or Kesler, Sheahan knows he’ll have his hands full.
“You go through all the elements of the game and they’re skilled in all those elements,” Sheahan said. “They’re big, they’re fast, they have a good shot.
“It’ll be a challenge playing against them but it’ll be fun.”
If Zetterberg and Pulkkinen are both out, both Joakim Andersson and Daniel Cleary, Detroit’s extra forwards during Saturday’s 7-6 overtime win over Dallas, will draw into the lineup.
“Guys have stepped up throughout the season,” goalie Jimmy Howard said. “It’s been a group effort, not solely relying on three or four guys. Everyone has had their moment in the sun
“Hopefully it’s not too serious with Z and he’s back sooner rather than later, but it gives someone a chance to step up.
California Dreaming
They may be in the Eastern Conference now, but don’t tell the Wings that these next three games against the Ducks, Los Angeles Kings (Tuesday) and San Jose Sharks (Thursday) aren’t a big deal.
“Anaheim and Chicago I would say are the two big rivalries (for the Wings in the Western Conference),” left-winger Justin Abdelkader said. “And San Jose. I would say the last few years we were in the West those were the big rivalries.”
Rivalries that remain fresh in their memory banks.
“It doesn’t really feel like we’re in the East,” Abdelkader said. “These West teams we have rivalries with and have played a lot, it’s weird not being out here as much. I think we know these team’s tendencies and we know what we need to do to win.
“All the California teams are playing good. Whether it’s Anaheim, L.A. has won seven in a row and San Jose always plays us tough. I enjoy playing these teams, coming out here to the West, staying here in California. It’s always fun, good hockey games.
“Hopefully this can be a good Western swing for us. I think we’ll get a good feel with where we’re at after this road trip.”
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