Look out hockey world, Steve Ott is coming for you.
Detroit Red Wings forward Ott, out since Jan. 3 due to a shoulder injury, was activated from the injured list Monday. He could see action as soon as Tuesday, as the Wings play host to the Columbus Blue Jackets at Joe Louis Arena, and yeah, you could say that Ott is a little bit excited by that possibility.
“I’m feeling completely healed up, so I’m ready to rock and roll if need be,… Ott said, while understanding that the Wings might be reluctant to alter a lineup that’s won two games in a row.
“Obviously today where I practiced wasn’t in the same position. We came off two big wins so you bide your time and when it’s time to get back in the lineup that’s when I’ll be ready to go.…
Ott also recognizes that with four games in six days against the NHL’s top three teams - a three-game road trip includes visits to No. 1 Washington (Thursday), No. 3 Columbus (Saturday) and No. 2 Minnesota (Sunday) - the Wings also better be ready to go.
“This is a real tough week starting with tomorrow to be honest with you, Ott said. “We’re going to be against some really good teams but we just beat a really good team in Nashville (1-0 on Saturday).
“Hopefully you carry on. (Goaltender) Petr (Mrazek) played a heck of a game the last game. When you have that, you try to grab any kind of momentum and carry it into your next game, and keep snowballing game to game.…
Defenseman Brendan Smith, who returned Saturday from a 13-game absence due to a knee injury, also understands the challenge that lay ahead for the Wings, not just in the week ahead but over the remaining 30 games as the playoff race heats up and points gain added value.
“It’s going to be tough games from here on out,… Smith said. “We have some good teams we’re going to play against. Our biggest thing is to play how we’ve been doing - play hard, get pucks deep, get pucks to the net and stuff like that. That’s going to try and be our mentality going forward.
I know we haven’t won more than thee in a row since the start of the season (when they enjoyed a six-game winning streak). We’re going to have to try and change that if we’re going to be a playoff team.…
Riding a two-game winning streak, the Wings will look to win as many as three in a row for just the third time this season.
“I thought our compete level in both games was really good,… Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said of their wins over the New York Islanders (5-4 on Friday) and the Predators. I thought on Saturday, in a game where we kind of lost our legs as the game went along, I still thought we played very smart even though we gave up lots of shots and certainly some chances late in the third when they were pushing.
“But up until then I thought we kept them to the outside, we did a good job in the neutral zone keeping them to the outside, we did a pretty good job in the D-zone of not giving a whole bunch. I thought we managed our game fairly well. We’re still working on managing our game with the puck better.…
Injury Updates Center Frans Nielsen (upper body injury) was placed on injured reserve to make room for the activation of Ott. Defenseman Niklas Kronwall (lower body injury) is listed as day to day.
“It sounds like at least a couple more games without Frans and at least a couple more games without Kronwall,… Blashill said. “I don’t know more than that, so I’d just call it day to day right now.…
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