Mikael Samuelsson will return to the lineup today and has only played 3 games this season. He suffered a nagging groin injury at the beginning of the season, then the morning before he was to return to the lineup, he got hit with an Ian White slap shot in practice and suffered a broken hand. A roster spot had to be cleared in order for Sammy to come off IR. More on that later.
The last cartoon I drew was a hit, so in honor of Sammy's return, I drew a new one. You're welcome.
Johan Franzen was injured somewhere on the "lower body" sometime in the 2nd period against the Sharks on Thursday and didn't return to the game. He saw a doctor when the team returned to Detroit on Saturday, and though there was no diagnosis made public, he was listed as day to day and it appears he will play today.
Colaiacovo has been assigned to Grand Rapids for a conditioning stint. He was activated off IR last week, and has only played 2 games this season (Jan 19 & Jan 21). He could be in Grand Rapids for up to 10 days, before being subject to wavers, but will most likely play be ready to return to Detroit after playing Friday night and last night in Grand Rapids. However Cola won't play today because the Wings didn't want him to have to play three games in three nights.
In case you somehow missed the news, the Red Wings signed the highly sought after Danny Dekeyser Friday. He won't play today and Babcock hasn't made a decision for sure about tomorrow. He wants him to get in more practice with the team and to make sure he's ready and as prepared as possible. Dekeyser isn't officially on the 23 man roster yet, but once his contract clears through the league (24 hours) the Wings will have to clear a roster spot for him.
Bertuzzi practiced a little with the team yesterday and rotated in with different lines, but there was no word on how much progress he's made and if there is any expected timetable for his return.
Helm is "moving int he right direction" according to Babcock, which is much better than moving in the wrong direction; but he isn't skating yet. Babcock said he will have to
Quincey skated yesterday and was wearing a full cage. There's been no official word as to when we can expect him back, but preliminary estimates were 1-2 weeks after he found out he didn't need surgery on his broken cheek bones.
Kent Huskins was traded to the Flyers yesterday for a conditional 7th round pick int he 2014 draft. The condition is that he re-signs with the Flyers. Huskins was traded in order to make room on the roster for Samuelsson to come back. I'm glad Holland traded him and 1. got something in return for him (even if it's not much) and 2. that Huskins has the opportunity to continue playing in the NHL. If we hadn't traded him, he would have been picked off the waiver wire when he was sent down to Grand Rapids to make room on the roster for returning players. At least this way we get something in return for him instead of losing him for nothing. Huskins was a trooper and did what was asked of him in Detroit, and I'm happy that he'll have the chance to continue his career in the NHL.
Colaiacovo and Samuelsson coming back is good news for the Wings, but it also puts them in a position to make some hard decisions because of the roster limit. Huskins was already traded to make room for Sammy, but when Dekeyser is activated on the roster, we have to move a player to make room for him, and when Quincey comes off IR, someone will have to be moved to make room for him. The most likely candidates to be sent down to Grand Rapids are Nyquist and then Lashoff, because they don't have to clear waivers. However the possibility still remains that Ian White could be traded, depending on what Holland and Co. decide to do at the trade deadline (if anything).
Detroit vs. Chicago stats:
Today's game is the 724th all-time meeting between DET and CHI
This is 361st all-time meeting between the Red Wings and Blackhawks in Detroit
DET's all-time record vs CHI: 363-264-84-12
DET's all-time home record vs CHI: 216-105-33-6
Last head-to-head game: CHI 2, DET 1 (SO) on Mar. 3 at Joe Louis Arena
DET is 3-4-3 in its last 10 regular season games vs CHI
DET is 1-2-2 in its last 5 regular season home games vs CHI
DET's PP is 3-23 (13.0%) over the last 10 regular season games vs CHI
DET's PK is 30-35 (85.7%) over the last 10 regular season games vs CHI
P. Datsyk has 4 points (2-2-4) over the last 6 regular season games vs CHI
P. Datsyuk has 47 points (15-32-47) in 59 career games vs CHI
H. Zetterberg has 47 points (19-28-47) in 50 career games vs CHI
J. Howard is 4-6-4 with a 2.66 GAA and .910 SV% in 15 career games vs CHI
DET is 4-4-5 vs the Central Division this season (13-10-1 in 2011-12)
Upcoming Red Wings Milestones:
I. White - 1 GP to 500
J. Franzen - 1 GP to 500
M. Samuelsson - 2 goals to 150
J. Tootoo - 2 goals to 50
V. Filppula - 3 points to 250
H. Zetterberg - 4 assists to 400
M. Samuelsson - 5 assists to 200
The Blackhawks will be without both Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp today.
The Blackhawks will be without both Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp today.
Here are the projected lines:
Forwards
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Justin Abdelkader
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Pavel Datsyuk
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Johan Franzen
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Valtteri Filppula
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Henrik Zetterberg
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Damien Brunner
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Daniel Cleary
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Joakim Andersson
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Mikael Samuelsson
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Drew Miller
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Cory Emmertom
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Jordin Tootoo
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Defense
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Niklas Kronwall
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Jonathan Ericsson
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Brendan Smith
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Brian Lashoff
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Jakub Kindl
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Ian White
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Goalies
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Jimmy Howard
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Jonas Gustavsson
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Healthy Scratch
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Carlo Colaiacovo
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Danny Dekeyser
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Patrick Eaves
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Gustav Nyquist
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Injured
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Todd Bertuzzi (Back)
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Darren Helm (Back)
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Kyle Quincey (Cheek)
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Let's Go Red Wings!
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