On the one hand, it’s a happy homecoming for the Detroit Red Wings, playing Saturday at Joe Louis Arena for the first time since New Year’s Eve.
“Finally,… Detroit left-winger Justin Abdelakder said. “It feels like we’ve been gone for a month. “It’s nice to be back for sure.…
Whether it stays nice for long could very well depend on their opponent Saturday, the Western Conference-leading Nashville Predators.
“They’ve got a great back end,… Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. “They can defend and they can really move the puck.
“I think they’ve got the best goalie in the league (Pekka Rinne) and then they have enough scoring up front that it keeps you in trouble.…
The Wings will go with the same lineup that won 3-2 in overtime Thursday at St. Louis.
Now In Goal The Wings won’t see NHL All-Star and Vezina Trophy favourite Rinne in the Nashville goal. He’s out 3-5 weeks due to a sprained knee and the Wings had to sheepishly admit that they couldn’t name who would be in goal for the Predators.
“I don’t know who their back-up is, we haven’t gone over that, but we’ve got to be prepared,… Abdelakder said. “Pekka Rinne, you can’t replace him. How he plays the puck, how big he is, his length.
“But I’m not saying their goalie isn’t going to come in and have a great performance. He very well could. We’ll be prepared, watch some video and be ready for him.…
Him would be Carter Hutton, who posted his first win of the season Friday as Nashville edged Washington 4-3.
“Pekka Rinne is their best player, so we’re very fortunate for him not to be playing,… Detroit defenseman Kyle Quincey said. “We’ve got to take advantage.
“He’s obviously a big part of their team, so hopefully we can get a few past their back-up.… Whoever he might be.
Injury Updates Goaltender Jonas Gustavsson (separated shoulder) and defenseman Jakub Kindl (sprained elbow) are the closest among Detroit’s walking wounded to being ready for a return to action.
Out since Dec. 29, Kindl would be eligible to be activated from the injured list for Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Wild, but with the Wings on a roll, the team sees no reason to rush him back to action.
“The doctor saw him last Monday or Tuesday and said he’s out another week,… Detroit general manager Ken Holland said of Kindl. “The earliest he could return is Tuesday, but why not give him an extra week and have him return after the All-Star break?…
Likewise, Gustavsson, who went out Nov. 7 with his shoulder ailment, should also be ready sometime after the Jan. 25 NHL All-Star Game, though again, the Wings seem in no hurry to get him back into the net with Petr Mrazek playing so solidly.
“The hope is he’s ready to go shortly after the All-Star break,… Holland said. “There’s no time frame.…
The picture isn’t so positive concerning Detroit’s other injured players, forward Johan Franzen (concussion-like symptoms) and goalie Jimmy Howard (slight groin tear).
Franzen, injured when he was hit by Edmonton’s Rob Klinkhammer, is doing some limited off-ice workouts at the present time.
“He’s had the odd headache, and has good days and bad days,… Holland said. “Until he’s on the ice practicing for three, four, five days in a row, there’s no time frame.
“We’re waiting for him to get on the ice.…
Due to the nature of his injury and the position he plays, Howard’s return is the most uncertain of the bunch. The absolute best-case scenario would be a late-January comeback, but that seems unlikely.
“With groin injuries there is no black and white,… Holland said. “We try to be conservative.
“He’s starting to work out. We’ll see how he feels once we regroup after the All-Star break.…
Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer