MLive’s Ansar Khan filed a game-day notebook which discusses the Red Wings’ defensemen who will have to step up in the absence of Simon Edvinsson:
“Great opportunity for our other D to step up,” [coach Derek] Lalonde said. “When we had lost Simon on the West Coast trip in Anaheim (Nov. 15) we didn’t handle it very well. We didn’t perform great from the back end, and even the other night when he was out some things found us. So, more minutes for our other D. They’ll step up and looking forward for the opportunity for the other guys.”
[Ben] Chiarot will remain paired with Moritz Seider. Justin Holl takes Chiarot’s former spot alongside Jeff Petry and [Albert] Johansson is paired with Erik Gustafsson.
“It’s never ideal losing a defenseman that early in the game, but I thought the guys did a great job,” Chiarot said. “I thought (assistant coach Bob Boughner) did a great job keeping everybody rolling through, keeping guys fresh every once in a while.”
Chiarot logged more than 29 minutes for the first time in three years.
“Felt good. Honestly, I enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun,” Chiarot said. “And we were saying after the game, we felt like we could have kept on going. Another period even so. Tells you that the boys are in shape.”
Continued (paywall)
