Opportunity is knocking for Teemu Pulkkinen and now it’s up to the Detroit Red Wings forward to seize the moment.
Pulkkinen, tied for second on the team with five goals, will skate on the second forward line Friday against the Los Angeles Kings at Joe Louis Arena alongside Pavel Datsyuk and Brad Richards, as coach Jeff Blashill seeks to increase Pulkkinen’s ice time and put him with two elite set-up man capable of finding him in open space to unleash his potent one timer.
“Of course every player who is playing hockey they want to play hockey and they want to be on the ice,… Pulkkinen said. “It’s no different for me.
“I want to play and now it’s good to get chance with those guys and play a little bit more.
“It’s great to play with players like that. Pavel and Richy are both guys who can really pass the puck. It’s nice to play with those guys. You have to be ready on every shift.…
The hope is that by teaming Pulkkinen with two other talented offensive players on his line, the opposition may focus more attention on Richards and Datsyuk, leaving Pulkkinen free to disappear and reappear in open space in the offensive zone and capitalize on his scoring chances.
“First of all I think he’s played very well all year,… Blashill said of Pulkkinen. “I think that’s shown in chances for. I think that’s shown in goal production five on five for the amount of ice time per game.
“He’s actually got to do a better job on the power play I think, but in terms of five on five he’s scored for us. I also think he’s given us energy but I don’t think that’s necessarily an evolution in his game. I think that’s what he’s done generally. He plays extremely hard; he’s on the puck lots. He can give you energy for sure.
“When he gets himself in trouble is when he doesn’t stop. If he stops defensively and faces the puck all over the ice he’s a real effective player. We’re hoping he can bring energy to Datsyuk and Richards and obviously he’s got an ability to score goals.
“Obviously he’s a guy who can put the puck in the net. I believe he’s a guy who can score on any goalie in the world with his shot because of how good a shot it is.
“I think Richy and Pav both can score, but they’re both elite passers of the puck. We hope it’s a good combination. We won’t know until we get out there playing.…
Smith Back Along with Richards, out since Oct. 21 with a back issue, defenseman Brendan Smith also returns to action after missing five games due to illness. He’ll skate in the third pairing alongside Alexey Marchenko, with Jakub Kindl a healthy scratch.
“I think we’ve got a lot of competition, a lot of good guys here, so you want to make sure you’re playing your best when you’re out there so you’re not losing your spot,… Smith said. “I don’t want to be out too long where I could possibly be giving up that spot, so I’m excited to get back in there and show what I can do.
“Mainly, I just want to help the team win, that’s my biggest thing and I think I can help the team do that.…
Petr Mrazek will make his second straight start in goal, with Jimmy Howard slated to get the nod Saturday in St. Louis against the Blues.
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