Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill doesn’t know if he’ll make changes to his lineup for Monday’s game at the Barclays Center against the New York Islanders.
He also doesn’t know that he won’t make any lineup alterations.
“I’m not sure on that,… Blashill admitted. “We have game-time decisions. I’ll get a report when I get back when the guys get off the ice.
“We had a number of guys that had a little – what I would call bumps and bruises – that might withhold them from the game, but we won’t know for sure probably until tonight.…
Sunday, the Wings recalled forward Eric Tangradi and defenseman Nick Jensen from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League as insurance in case changes are required.
For Jensen, it’s the first time he’s been called up to the NHL and Blashill discussed what he’d need to see from Jensen to prove he’s ready to play at this level.
“First he needs opportunity and that’s something out of his control,… Blashill said. “But what he needs to do when he’s up here to be successful is what makes him successful and that’s one, he needs to do a great job of using his speed as a defensive weapon. That’s what I think.
“Sometimes when you look at a guy that skates the way Jensen does, you think of him as a real offensive guy - that’s not to say he can’t bring any offense but he can really use his speed as a defensive weapon. He’s a great defender because of it.
“He’s extremely competitive. He’s been a real consistently good defender down there for a long time, he certainly was for me, and I know the reports back this year have been real good. So if he gets a chance to play we have full confidence to use him.…
Detroit goalie Petr Mrazek had the opportunity to play behind Jensen in Grand Rapids.
“He’s a smart defenseman,… Mrazek said. “He can skate and play well on defense, play both ways, make some good plays.…
Wings center Riley Sheahan is another fan of Jensen’s work.
“Playing with him in training camp and pre-season, he’s a very, very good player, he’s a good skater, he’s tough, he’s hard to play against,… Sheahan said.
If someone is coming out for Jensen, defenseman Brendan Smith, who’s been nursing a sore shoulder, insisted it wouldn’t be him.
“I’m fine,… Smith said. “I’m good to go.…
Road Warriors The Wings come into Monday’s game with six wins in their last seven road games, but Smith doesn’t think too much should be read into Detroit’s road success.
“We’ve been on the road a lot, so maybe that’s the reason everyone’s thinking that,… Smith said. “We’re still getting wins. I think we’ve got to keep playing our game.
“There’s nothing I can pinpoint, we just have to keep playing our style and I think it’s helped us. I think that’s a correlation of us winning because we’ve played well on the road.…
Break Time Monday’s tilt will be Detroit’s last prior to the NHL All-Star break, and Blashill doesn’t mind if the players utilize that reality as a motivator.
“Whatever gives them lots of energy is good with me, and if the beach gives them energy I’m happy with that,… Blashill said. “But we have to play with lots of energy and lots of attention to detail. We have for the most part here over the last 20 games or so. I didn’t think it was good enough on Saturday (in a 4-3 loss to Anaheim).
“I think the biggest thing we want to get across this morning was we have to have a singular focus to come on here and win the hockey game tonight and knowing that it’s going to be extremely tough, knowing that the Islanders are real good.
“I don’t think we played nearly our best in the last game. We’ve got to come in here real determined to do it right for 60 minutes and that gives you, really, your only chance to win. Certainly it doesn’t guarantee success.…
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