Looking to break out of a drought that has seen the team score once in the first two games of a five-game homestand, the Detroit Red Wings shuffled their lines in preparation for Tuesday’s game at Joe Louis Arena against the Arizona Coyotes.
They also prepared to go into battle perhaps minus captain Henrik Zetterberg. Zetterberg, who didn’t take part in Tuesday’s morning skate due to an undisclosed injury, missed the World Cup of Hockey and Red Wings training camp due to an off-season knee ailment.
All Detroit coach Jeff Blashill would say regarding Zetterberg’s status was, “We’ll make those decisions for tonight, tonight.…
Center of Attention One of the line switches will see Andreas Athanasiou play center between two wingers who’ve struggled to find the net in Gus Nyquist and Thomas Vanek. Nyquist has one goal in 23 games, while Vanek has scored once in his last 11 games, and the hope is that Athanasiou’s blazing speed will open up more time and space to allow both of them to regain their finishing touch.
That formula worked earlier this season when speedy Darren Helm, currently out with a shoulder injury, was situated between those two wingers.
“I can come under the puck with a lot of speed and those guys are highly skilled, so I think once we get our line clicking there and get a few shifts out of the way, we should be rolling along,… Athanasiou said.
“I can really open up some ice for those guys and they’re high-end playmakers. If you give them that extra time and space - just a split second - it will generate opportunities for us.…
While he’s looking for more grinding goals from his team, Blashill believes this trio can provide the team with scoring opportunities off the rush.
“Nyquie’s been a really good rush player his whole career,… Blashill said. “He’s scored a lot of goals on the rush. So when you have a guy with Helmer’s speed or Double A’s speed, it opens up opportunities on the rush.
We want to be able to score certainly grinding O-zone goals as well but I also thought when I put Double A on the wing with Vanek, that was a good combo. Double-A’s got lots of offensive ability, he’s got lots of speed. When he’s engaged, he’s an excellent hockey player so we need him to be on top of his game tonight.…
Ericsson Back Soon? Detroit defenseman Jonathan Ericsson, out the past two games with back spasms, returned to the ice Thursday and is targeting Thursday’s game against Los Angeles as a potential return date.
“Hopefully Thursday if everything goes as planned and I feel good tomorrow,… Ericsson said. “Then I can do some work in the gym. I’m aiming for Thursday at least.…
Ericsson experienced no immediate setbacks following his first on-ice session.
“It felt good today,… Ericsson said. “It’s the first time skating and I don’t know, I felt really good, better than I thought.
The problem first cropped up during practice the day following last Wednesday’s win at Winnipeg.
“I just got some back issues during the Thursday practice,… Ericsson said. “I had to step off the ice there. But I got better quickly and then I had a setback day and then yesterday and today was a lot better.…
Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer