The Detroit Red Wings held a morning skate ahead of tonight’s game vs. the New York Islanders (7 PM EST start on Bally Sports Detroit/MSG+/97.1 FM), and Alex Nedeljkovic will start for the Red Wings tonight vs. the winless-in-8 Islanders.
After the morning skate, Nick Leddy spoke with the media…
Nick Leddy says he met up with some of his “good buddies” on #Isles last night. “That’s a good group there. They know how to win.” Said it was a “bit of a scare” watching ex-teammates go through COVID-19 outbreak.— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) December 4, 2021
Red Wings D Nick Leddy on facing #Isles tonight: “A lot of excitement…All those memories and bonds are huge…I’ll probably have a little bit of nerves out there.”— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) December 4, 2021
FYI:
Danny DeKeyser was getting a lot of extra work in after morning skate which would point toward him being out tonight against the Islanders— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) December 4, 2021
Also FYI, from the Islanders’ side:
Austin Czarnik up, Andy Andreoff down to Bridgeport for #Isles per AHL transactions.— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) December 4, 2021
Zdeno Chara first #Isles player on ice for morning skate here in Detroit.— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) December 4, 2021
Kieffer Bellows, like Chara one of the #Isles who had been on COVID protocol, also skating. Austin Czarnik (No. 10) on the ice. Andy Andreoff back to Bridgeport (AHL).— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) December 4, 2021
Don’t see #Isles Casey Cizikas, who has been in COVID protocol.— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) December 4, 2021
Big Z a full participant in #Isles morning skate. Good sign Chara might be ready to return tonight.— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) December 4, 2021
Ilya Sorokin appears to be occupying the starter’s net for #Isles.— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) December 4, 2021
Casey Cizikas the lone #Isles player remaining in COVID-19 protocol— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) December 4, 2021
Trotz: Anticipating more of a goalie rotation coming up between Sorokin and Varlamov because of upcoming condensed schedule.— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) December 4, 2021
Here are videos of Nick Leddy and coach Blashill speaking with the media, [edit: with Blashill’s availability being from Friday]:
Update: If you’re interested, NewYorkIslanders.com’s Sasha Kandrach posted a game preview as well, as did DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills.
