The Free Press’s Helene St. James asked Red Wings goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic and coach Jeff Blashill about the probability of the Wings playing against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday given that the Canes’ game in Minnesota was postponed due to multiple players entering COVID protocols:
The Detroit Red Wings await word on whether it’s game on with the Carolina Hurricanes next on the slate, because the Hurricanes — Nedeljkovic’s former team — had their Tuesday game postponed when four players entered COVID-19 protocol.
“I played with them for a while, started my career there, so hopefully they’re all doing well,” Nedeljkovic said after Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders at Little Caesars Arena. “Obviously, they’re sick but they’re doing OK and they’re battling and nobody is too ill.”
The Wings likely will know before their 1 p.m. practice. They are scheduled to fly in the afternoon.
The Wings just dealt with three players going through protocol: Danny DeKeyser, Tyler Bertuzzi and Marc Staal. The Wings were in enhanced measures on their last road trip (meaning players essentially stayed in their hotel rooms) and continue to preach caution.
“We certainly have addressed that going back to when we had a few cases in a row and just making sure that our awareness is heightened and that our due diligence is heightened,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “We’re going to do the best we can. But you can do everything right and seem to still get the virus. All you can do is try to do it right to be as proactive as you can then you hope for the best and that’s what we’re doing.”
