As the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan reports, the Red Wings’ coaching staff believes that Saturday night’s preseason finale against the Toronto Maple Leafs (7 PM EDT on Bally Sports Detroit/TSN4, 97.1 FM) should be about this year’s team continuing to build toward regular-season intensity, fit and finish:
Lalonde is mostly concerned about seeing his lineup “engaged” and ready to play on Saturday.
“It’s hard, but it’s reality,” said Lalonde, noting Toronto isn’t likely to bring a veteran lineup. “You saw us Wednesday in Pittsburgh playing (against) a predominantly American Hockey League team and with a predominant NHL lineup and they gave us fits because they outworked us.
“You saw us (Thursday), our ‘B’ team, and they gave Toronto’s players fits because our guys worked hard. It’s a really tough read. I’m sure Toronto will do the same to us (Saturday). Guys are playing for their lives, playing for jobs and these experienced NHL veterans, they usually take what they need out of the exhibitions. I won’t put a whole lot of stock in (Saturday), but you want to keep buttoning up the structure and our habits. (And) to get emotionally engaged. We’re not good enough to just turn it on and off.”
Goaltender Ville Husso is scheduled to play the entire game, but Lalonde wouldn’t commit to any pairs or lines, other than likely seeing Dylan Larkin centering Michael Rasmussen and Alex DeBrincat.
Rasmussen’s size and strength was a positive factor on lines before he suffered a season-ending knee injury in February.
“Anyone Ras has played with, and you guys saw this last year, he drives them a little bit and gets them touches,” Lalonde said. “He gets pucks off the forecheck, pucks in transition for guys. Anyone he is with, he kind of helps them a lot.”
Continued; I’m going to be honest–the Larkin-DeBrincat pairing needs a worker bee, not a second sniper, so I would not be surprised if Lucas Raymond eventually finds himself on the second line so that the third part of the Wings’ top line is more balanced with a forechecking, physical player.
That’s not a dig on Raymond, who’s a fine player. It’s just that he hasn’t (as of yet) displayed that kind of play in the exhibition season.
