The Detroit Red Wings practiced without Andrew Copp or Tyler Motte on Friday afternoon, having recalled Marco Kasper for emergency reasons ahead of tomorrow’s matinee game against the 0-and-4 Nashville Predators (2 PM EDT start on Bally Sports Detroit).
The Red Wings shook up their lines and defensive pairings as a result of Copp and Motte’s absences–the power play, too–and it appears that the team will go with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen if Copp or Motte can’t go tomorrow.
The 1-and-3 Red Wings were still stinging from last night’s 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers when they spoke with the press after practice. You can guess who the star of the day happened to be:
Kasper in town. 👻 pic.twitter.com/aGlVpZmsbh
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 18, 2024
Talked to both Simon Edvinsson and Mo Seider about Marco Kasper and both of them used the term “grit” when describing how he plays. Detroiters’ favorite word. #LGRW
— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) October 18, 2024
Motte being evaluated for an upper body injury, day-to-day. Copp maintenance day for the flu bug going around.
— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) October 18, 2024
Tyler Motte in a day to day situation with an upper body injury, per Coach Lalonde #LGRW @DetroitRedWings
— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) October 18, 2024
Derek Lalonde said Tyler Motte is being evaluated for an Upper Body injury. Day to day currently. Andrew Copp took a maintenance day today. A little under the weather. #LGRW
— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) October 18, 2024
Tyler Motte is being evaluated for an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day, per Coach Lalonde.
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 18, 2024
Jeff Petry will be good to go for tomorrow’s game against Nashville, per Coach Lalonde #LGRW
— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) October 18, 2024
Alex Lyon will get the start in net tomorrow against the Preds #LGRW
— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) October 18, 2024
Alex Lyon will be in net tomorrow in Nashville. #LGRW
— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) October 18, 2024
Red Wings updates:
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) October 18, 2024
Tyler Motte being evaluated for U-B injury.
Copp still dealing with illness.
Petry has been cleared.
Lyon starting at Nashville Predators Saturday.
Lalonde said 11 and 7 in play depending on availability of Copp.
Kasper between Rasmussen/Berggren; Copp ill, Motte dealing with upper-body injury; Lyon starting in Nashville. Lalonde said 11 F’s and 7 D’s in play for tomorrow
— Ted Kulfan (@tkulfan) October 18, 2024
#RedWings Lalonde: Motte being evaluated for upper body injury. Copp (sick). Petry cleared. 11 and 7 an option. Regardless, Kasper will center Rasmussen and Berggren and play PP and PK. Lyon starting.
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) October 18, 2024
Motte upper body injury, Copp maintenance day. Lalonde said 11/7 split is possible depending on personnel.
— Connor Earegood (@ConnorEaregood) October 18, 2024
Meanwhile, Field Level Media has already written up a preview of tomorrow afternoon’s Red Wings-Predators game:
The Predators have been outscored 18-8 in their 0-4 start.
“We’ve got to find a way,” defenseman Roman Josi said. “It’s hard right now. Every little thing matters. It’s just one of those times where we’ve got to dig in for every little play. We’ve just got to play a little harder. Everybody’s got a little more, and we’ve just got to dig in a little more to get that first win.”
All but one of Nashville’s losses have come at home. The Predators were defeated by Edmonton, 4-2, on Thursday.
Jonathan Marchessault scored his first goal since signing a five-year contract as a free agent but it wasn’t enough.
The good news is that most of the team is aware it can overcome a poor beginning. The Predators lost 10 of their first 15 games last season but still made the playoffs.
“Right now, I think we’re a little fragile group,” Marchessault said. “Like the beginning of the season is not going like we want. In the offseason, everybody says how good you guys are going to be and everything, and we maybe have to think that we’re a good team but not good enough. We’ve got to work harder than the opponent.”
Then there’s 97.1 the Ticket’s Pat Caputo’s missive on the Red Wings, which is…acerbic…
Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, Alex DeBrincat and Moritz Seider are getting big-boy money, and have played like fat cats finding endless open cans of tuna and belching.
If you have watched the Red Wings and wondered where Patrick Kane is, he actually has been playing. You just haven’t noticed because he hardly touches the puck. He has a 36.6 Corsi. How is that even possible?
You can go on and on about this. J.T. Compher, Michael Rasmussen, Joe Veleno and Andrew Copp are all being compensated nicely only to violate the faith general manager Steve Yzerman put in them. As for Jeff Petry, Ben Chariot, Ollie Maatta and Justin Holl, otherwise known as, apparently, $13.55 million thrown down the drain under the guise of garnering a “veteran” defense corps, ah, that’s on Yzerman.
Yeah. The Red Wings reacted by calling up Marco Kasper. Hopefully it will mean more than pouring a can of 5 Hour Energy in the mouth of a corpse.
Perhaps, though, it will be a reminder the season’s here, so wake up. There are 78 games left. This will be forgotten soon if the Red Wings just win a few games.
But let’s face it. The Eastern Conference is brutally difficult and the Red Wings can’t afford this malaise to last.
Take that for what you will…
And meanwhile, in Nashville…
Juuse Saros is first off the ice today ahead of playing the Red Wings tomorrow afternoon.
— Nick Kieser🏒 (@KieserNick) October 18, 2024