Author: George Malik

Updated at 12:09 PM: Of Red Wings-Islanders note from the New York Islanders’ skate ahead of the Red Wings’ game vs. New York tonight (7:30 PM EST on Bally Sports Dettroit/MSG+/97.1 FM):

Mathew Barzal not participating in otherwise full #Isles morning skate. Obviously will wait to talk to Trotz but Barzal always skates.— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) December 14, 2021

Matt Martin again skating with Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck at #Isles morning skate. Anthony Beauvillier taking rushes with Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey. J-G Pageau between Anders Lee and Kyle Palmieri and Zach Parise between Kieffer Bellows and Oliver Wahlstrom.— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) December 14, 2021

By the way, I’m not suggesting Mathew Barzal is going to be a healthy scratch. He would be skating this morning if that was the case. Plus, he’s on a six-game point streak.— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) December 14, 2021

Ilya Sorokin first goalie off for #Isles.— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) December 14, 2021

Well this is bad:

Mat Barzal is in COVID protocol and won’t play tonight, per Barry Trotz— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) December 14, 2021

Barzal in COVID 19 protocl— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) December 14, 2021

Mathew Barzal is in COVID Protocol. #Isles— Christian Arnold (@C_Arnold01) December 14, 2021

Mat Barzal is in COVID protocol, per Barry Trotz— Ethan Sears (@ethan_sears) December 14, 2021

Barzal in COVID protocol. Most likely meaning he will miss 10 days. That will cost him 5 games and keep him out until after Christmas. #Isles— Brendan Burke (@brendanmburke) December 14, 2021

This is an #Isles team that was considered one of the deepest in the #NHL. This season, that depth has not lived up to expectations.

HC Trotz called out players like Kyle Palmieri and Josh Bailey during his pregame presser as they need to do more especially with Mat Barzal out.— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) December 14, 2021

FYI: The Red Wings are partnering with Socios.com and their app to “enhance the fan experience”:

5⃣One of the original 6.
11 time champs.
Detroit’s very own.

Welcome to https://t.co/2FROhSNgw8, @DetroitRedWings.#BeMoreThanAFan x #LGRW pic.twitter.com/wIZu10Jb4J— Socios.com (@socios) December 14, 2021

Okay, the Red Wings held a morning skate ahead of tonight’s game vs. the New York Islanders (7:30 PM EST start on Bally Sports Detroit/MSG+/97.1 FM), and Marc Staal made an appearance, but will not play as he’s coming out of COVID protocols.

After the morning skate, Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill spoke with the media…

As did Robby Fabbri, who signed a 3-year, $12 million contract extension last night:

The Red Wings held a brief morning skate ahead of tonight’s game vs. the New York Islanders, and Marc Staal (COVID protocol) rejoined the fray, with Alex Nedeljkovic apparently starting this evening (7:30 PM EST start on Bally Sports Detroit/MSG+/97.1 FM).

Our friends from Long Island watched the Wings’ morning skate…

Ex-#Isles G Thomas Greiss working late at Red Wings morning skate so appears Alex Nedeljkovic gets the start tonight here in Detroit. Nedeljkovic made 20 saves in Wings’ 4-3 OT win over Isles at Little Caesars Arena on Dec. 4.— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) December 14, 2021

And the Islanders community is reeling from the news that top prospect and Team Finland center Aatu Raty will not be able to participate in the World Junior Championship in Edmonton due to a positive COVID test.

So:

Marc Staal is out of Covid protocol, but not expected to play tonight. #LGRW— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) December 14, 2021

Marc Staal is out of COVID protocol, but Jeff Blashill said he does not anticipate him playing tonight. #LGRW— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) December 14, 2021

Red Wings’ Marc Staal is out of COVID-19 protocol but is not anticipated to play tonight vs NYI.— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) December 14, 2021

Given that Staal was probably symptomatic, this is not a surprise. He’ll need some time to regain his “wind.”

The 13-12-and-3 Detroit Red Wings hope to snap a 3-game losing streak as they host the 7-11-and-5 New York Islanders this evening at Little Caesars Arena (7:30 PM EST start on Bally Sports Detroit/MSG+/97.1 FM).

The Red Wings won the last meeting between the teams, but only via a 4-3 overtime decision, and Barry Trotz’s Islanders are trying to make their December push toward a re-set after struggling through the first 20-or-so games of the season.

Detroit theoretically held a morning skate, but the morning skate Tweets were very sparse today:

Marc Staal is back skating with the team as we prep for #NYIvsDET.

?: https://t.co/a1ZFiGyALB pic.twitter.com/sKXq55RRM6— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 14, 2021

Marc Staal on the ice for morning skate today. #LGRW— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) December 14, 2021

Alex Nedeljkovic is the first goaltender off the ice this morning. #LGRW— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) December 14, 2021

Meanwhile, in Plymouth, at the U.S. World Junior selection camp…

Red Wings prospect @Carter_Mazur continues to impress at the @usahockey #WorldJuniors selection camp. He’s showing goal-scoring touch and physicality. @NHLNetwork @DU_Hockey ??— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 14, 2021

Things get tricky for the 13-12-and-3 Red Wings this evening as the 7-11-and-5 New York Islanders come to town this evening (7:30 PM EST start on Bally Sports Detroit/MSG+/97.1 FM).

The Red Wings have lost 3 straight, and while the Islanders are looking to earn their first 2-game winning streak of the season, they’ve won 2 of their past 3 games, including a 4-2 win against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday evening.

NewYorkIslanders.com’s Sasha Kendrach posted a very good game preview this morning…

After collecting their first win on home ice on Saturday night at UBS Arena, the New York Islanders are looking to keep the momentum going as they travel to Detroit to take on the Red Wings on Tuesday night for the second time this season and this month. 

In their previous meeting on Dec. 4, the Red Wings defeated the Islanders 4-3 in overtime. The Islanders’ received scoring from their special teams with a shorthanded goal from Cal Clutterbuck and two power-play tallies from Oliver Wahlstrom. Detroit’s win was backed by regulation goals from Filip Hronek, Sam Gagner and Givani Smith while Moritz Seider buried the OT winner. Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves on 30 shots in the loss, while Alex Nedeljkovic made 20 saves on 23 shots in the win. 

The Islanders enter Tuesday’s matchup coming off a big 4-2 win over New Jersey on Saturday night, which marked the club’s first-ever victory at UBS Arena. Noah Dobson scored on the power play, Andy Greene and Jean-Gabriel Pageau found the back of the net at even strength and Zach Parise netted the game winner with a shorthanded goal. Sorokin made 30 saves on 32 shots. 

Since defeating the Islanders in overtime on Dec. 4, Detroit has subsequently lost its last three games. Their most recent loss came at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche on Friday where they were beaten 7-3. Vladislav Namestnikov, Joe Veleno and Filip Hronek (power play) scored, while Thomas Greiss made 4 saves on 7 shots through 10:49 before being replaced by Nedeljkovic, who made 36 saves on 39 shots.

And Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen summarized the teams’ respective situations:

I’m not going to my family’s Christmas party because of the delta variant of COVID-19. My aunt is immune-compromised, and while all my relatives are vaccinated and boosted, my aunt has informed me that she believes the virus is too, well, virulent for us to take the risk of hugging and hanging out with 30-some people when Michigan has the highest rates of COVID infection in the nation.

My aunt is vaccinated and boosted, as am I, but her immune system is effectively a wet piece of paper towel, and a one-ply piece of cheap paper towel at that. She’s going through an immune flare-up where her immune system attacks her body right now, and it’s just too risky for me to be out in crowds, even vaccinated, well-meaning ones.

Bluntly, there is no magic bullet against COVID infection. It’s a respiratory illness, and it’s spread by breathing, sneezing, coughing, things that all of us do on a regular basis. And it’s incredibly virulent against human beings.

As we’ve learned in the sporting world, when players are breathing, sneezing, coughing, spitting, sweating, bleeding and generally exerting themselves athletically in close proximity, COVID can spread like wildfire, even if teams are masking and isolating players away from on-ice and in-the-locker-room activities.

Long story long, even vaccination is not a magic bullet, but it sure as hell helps reduce the severity of COVID among those who contract it.

The Red Wings are vaccinated against COVID except for one player, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Bertuzzi informed the media on Monday that the fact that he got COVID and missed 5 games due to his infection will not change his mind as to not getting vaccinated. I’ll let Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff take it from here…

TSN’s Mark Masters filed a notebook article on Monday discussing the Canadian World Junior team’s participants, including Red Wings prospect and Grand Rapids Griffins defenseman Donovan Sebrango, who’s part of Canada’s WJC team:

Donovan Sebrango is a superstitious guy. 

“In my stall, I like things – my water bottle, my tape – to the right of me,” the Grand Rapids Griffins defenceman said. “I always have to use a new roll of clear tape on my shin pads every game. And sometimes I’ll change things to see if things change.” 

The latest example came at Canada’s selection camp. Sebrango, the Detroit Red Wings’ third-round pick in 2020, was among the final cuts last year. 

“Usually I come in with a bit shorter hair and a bit of a shaved face,” he said. “It didn’t go well for me last time, wasn’t able to make the team, so I came in this year with longer hair and a bit more scruff … I came in with a different look.” 

It worked. On Sunday night, Sebrango learned he would be one of Canada’s eight defencemen at the World Juniors. 

“It’s definitely a nerve-wracking day, but it’s one of the days you dream of,” he said. “It’s what you play the game for, those kind of days.” 

And while Sebrango is superstitious, the truth is it’s his game that earned him a ticket to Edmonton. 

“Just consistency and playing the game simple,” he said of his camp performance. “There’s nothing too special to my game. Just playing simple, breaking pucks out and being a physical guy.” 

Continued

Update: Now with video!

“In my stall, I like things – my water bottle, my tape – to the right of me. And sometimes I’ll change things to see if things change.”

How a superstitious Donovan Sebrango changed his look and his outcome at ?? Canada’s #WorldJuniors camp: https://t.co/Dyd2ZGx2Co#TSNHockey pic.twitter.com/PGhWGvMwtR— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) December 14, 2021

The Red Wings are trying to get some traction for their website-based practice reports. Here’s Monday’s installment:

The Red Wings signed Robby Fabbri to a 3-year, $12 million extension on Monday night, and the Wings’ beat writers weighed in on the deal, starting with MLive’s Ansar Khan…

Robby Fabbri was a young forward whose promising career in St. Louis had been sidetracked by major knee injuries when the Detroit Red Wings acquired him as a reclamation project in 2019.

Three years later, he’s proven to be a productive top-six forward and part of the franchise rebuild. On Monday, the Red Wings announced they have signed Fabbri to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $4 million.

Fabbri, 25, is in the last year of his contract at a cap hit of $2.95 million. He was due to become an unrestricted free agent after the season. Now he is locked up through the 2024-25 season.

Fabbri has eight goals and six assists in 28 games this season. He has appeared in 110 games over parts of three seasons with Detroit, collecting 32 goals and 63 points.

And continuing with Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff…