UPDATE - Red Wings have recalled defenseman Xavier Ouellet and forward Tomas Nosek from AHL Grand Rapids.
Opportunity could be knocking for Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jakub Kindl.
Detroit coach Jeff Blashill confirmed after Saturday’s practice that defenseman Jonathan Ericsson was an uncertain starter for Sunday’s game at Joe Louis Arena agsainst the Calgary Flames.
“He might be out tomorrow,… Blashill said of Ericsson.
“It happened late in the third. I didn't know about it until after the game. Right now it's day-to-day but it might change. When I was told this morning, it was day-to-day for now. I think those things change depending on how he reacts.…
If Ericsson can’t answer the bell, it opens the door for Kindl, who in Friday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks was a healthy scratch for the 60th time since the end of the 2012 NHL lockout.
Kindl was scratched the last eight games, seeing his most recent action Nov. 29 against the Florida Panthers, his only action in Detroit’s last 13 games.
“That'll be a great opportunity for Kindl,… Blashill said. “I think the biggest thing with that, I think two things on that. One, I think he's played well. He didn't come out because he didn't play well. He came out because I had six others that I chose to put ahead of him but certainly not because of his play.
“Then the other side of it is I believe he's worked hard to put himself in position to have success. This is what you have to do. You have to make sure that you're prepared that when your opportunity comes, you jump through the window. It's not his decision whether he plays or not, that's mine. But it's his decision to make sure he's ready to be great, so hopefully he's great tomorrow, if he plays.…
Blashill tried Kindl as part of the Detroit power play unit during practice Saturday.
“We were working on a little bit different options there and I wanted to try him on the power play in that spot,… Blashill said. “I'm not saying it'll be for sure but that was something we were working on.…
Ericsson might not be the only Wing on the shelf Sunday. Blashill also confirmed that captain Henrik Zetterberg had suffered a lower-body injury during Friday’s game. “It just happened last night,… Blashill said of Zetterberg’s ailment. “We hope he's good to go tomorrow but I don't know that for sure.…
The Wings have recalled forward Tomas Nosek and defenseman Xavier Ouellet from AHL Grand Rapids.
Pulkkinen Skates Injured forward Teemu Pulkkinen (shoulder) skated on his own Saturday for the first time since he was injured in a Dec. 3 game versus Arizona. “It was 15 minutes by myself, just a little but skating laps, a little bit stick-handling,… said Pulkkinen, who is still a long way from returning to action.
It’s day-by-day, see how I feel. We do all we can so I can be back on the ice in the game as soon as possible but we’ll see. It’s going to take some time for sure.…
“Of course, as a hockey player you want to play hockey, you want to skate with the team. But right now I can’t skate with the team so this week for sure I’ll skate by myself. I feel better every day but still going to need some time.
“Every day I can do more and more and I feel a little bit better right now.…
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