Author: George Malik

The Detroit Red Wings begin a set of 4 games to be played over the course of 6 nights by hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday (7:30 PM on Bally Sports Detroit/Bally Sports Ohio/97.1 FM).

The Red Wings are coming off a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, and have a 1-0-and-1 record, and will have Dylan Larkin in their lineup, but possibly not Marc Staal;

Columbus is 2-and-0, having most recently defeated the Seattle Kraken 2-1 in overtime on Saturday night, but they lost Max Domi today to a broken rib suffered in Saturday’s game. It’s believed that Yegor Chinakov will replace Domi in the Blue Jackets’ lineup.

The Blue Jackets didn’t practice on Monday, but the Blue Jackets’ PR Twitter account posted a couple of ugly stats regarding the Blue Jackets’ record against the Red Wings of late:

Columbus is 43-46-14 all-time vs. Detroit, including 18-26-6 on the road… Columbus is 11-3-2 in its last 16 at Detroit… The Jackets went 4-3-1 vs. the Wings in 2020-21.

Field Level Media set up tonight’s game by looking back at their performance on Saturday:

The Detroit Red Wings practiced on Monday with Dylan Larkin in the lineup and Marc Staal missing ahead of tomorrow’s game vs. Columbus (and a stretch of 4 games to be played over the course of 6 nights looming on the schedule).

After practice, Dylan Larkin took responsibility for his suspension for punching Mathieu Joseph, and coach Jeff Blashill told the media (via video) that Staal’s status is uncertain, that the Wings are attempting to improve their special teams play, and that Joe Veleno is in Grand Rapids to play the most important minutes he possibly can right now.

All three of the Red Wings’ beat writers took note of Larkin’s remarks regarding his suspension, and the play that led up to it, starting with MLive’s Ansar Khan…

“It was a tough 6-7 months (after the Benn hit), I had some tough nights and I wanted to do something about it so bad, there was so much anger. My buddies asked me to go golfing all summer and I couldn’t golf. I couldn’t go on boats. I don’t want to have a sob story (but) that went through my head quickly. Maybe I thought about if something happens, I’m going to do something about it, but I can’t lash out like that. The one-game suspension was warranted.”

Larkin received a match penalty at 11:40 of the second period, getting ejected from the game and putting the Lightning on a five-minute power play during which they scored twice before going on to win 7-6 in overtime.

“When hits like that happen, you got to do something different to try to fight him or whatever,” Larkin said. “I think I was too aggressive and kind of lost my cool for a split-second, but I was very much disappointed in myself after and disappointed for the team.

“But I also think enough is enough. I’ve been through some tough times. I felt a pain and immediately thought, ‘Here we go again,’ and I got up and reacted, and I dealt with the punishment and I’m very much ready to move on.”

And continuing with the Free Press’s Helene St. James…

The Detroit Red Wings practiced for a fairly lengthy period of time on Monday, welcoming Dylan Larkin back from his one-game suspension, and both Larkin and coach Jeff Blashill spoke with the media ahead of tomorrow night’s game vs. Columbus (7:30 PM EDT on Bally Sports Detroit/Bally Sports Ohio/97.1 FM).

Larkin took responsibility for his suspension for punching Mathieu Joseph after Joseph checked Larkin into the boards head-first; Blashill addressed Larkin’s return, and addressed the status of Marc Staal, who did not practice on Monday.

Here are the Red Wings’ videos of their press conferences:

Updated with Blashill’s remarks at 12:47 PM: The Red Wings practiced ahead of tomorrow’s home game vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets (7:30 PM EDT on Bally Sports Detroit/Bally Sports Ohio/97.1 FM), kicking off a stretch of 4 games to be played over the course of 6 nights;

The Wings’ beat writers reported that captain Dylan Larkin returned to practicing regularly with the team, but Marc Staal was absent from practice.

After practice, the Red Wings’ captain, Dylan Larkin, and coach Jeff Blashill spoke with the media:

Larkin says he feels his one-game suspension was warranted— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) October 18, 2021

Dylan Larkin to the media today about the hit from Joseph- “It was an unfortunate play. It wasn’t called. Thats Hockey, thats what we deal with. I don’t want to have a sob story and I can’t act like that. The one game suspension was warranted.” #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) October 18, 2021

Larkin adds he is ready to get back out there tomorrow night. Great news. #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) October 18, 2021

The Detroit Red Wings split a pair of high-scoring games over the course of the past week, going 1-0-and-1, and the Hockey News’s Jason Chen, a fantasy hockey writer, notes that the Wings face a significant test this upcoming week as they prepare to play 4 games over the course of 6 nights:

Detroit Red Wings: It was an impressive performance against the Lightning but it didn’t detract that they’re still a very leaky defensive team, allowing at least 40 shots in their first two games, though Moritz Seider really looks like the real deal. He’s worth picking up if he’s going to keep playing 20-plus minutes a night in a top-four role, depending on the size of your league, and note the Red Wings seem to prefer playing two defense on their power play with Seider alongside Filip Hronek, with Seider actually leading in PP TOI 3:41 vs. 2:55. Nick Leddy was a distant No. 3 option (1:55) even though the Red Wings showed a lot of him on their power play during the preseason.

The Wings are one of four teams playing four games this week, the last two of which are back-to-backs on the road, but it’s also against the struggling Habs and Blackhawks, who are 0-5-1 collectively after Week 1. Dylan Larkin has also served his suspension and will be back in his usual No. 1 role and the Red Wings offense can be feast or famine, but at least Filip Zadina, Tyler Bertuzzi and Lucas Raymond all off to good starts. Keep an eye on them since their minutes may increase as the season progresses.

Continued; this week will be a big test for the Wings in terms of real-world hockey, and a good opportunity for fantasy hockey poolies to get their favorite players some time in their leagues…

This comes from the Red Wings: ESPN’s John Buccigross Tweeted out this 2-minute interview with Tyler Bertuzzi from the NHL show, “The Point”:

Tyler Bertuzzi on The Point… pic.twitter.com/bPGOb0mtyR— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) October 17, 2021

Updated at 11:44 AM: The Red Wings hit the ice for practice at Little Caesars Arena just before 11 AM on Monday, and there was good (initial) news ahead of a stretch in which the Wings play 4 games in 6 nights this week:

Dylan Larkin on the ice as #RedWings prepare for start of practice. pic.twitter.com/wucc0RysTz— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) October 18, 2021

Dylan Larkin skating at Red Wings practice this morning— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) October 18, 2021

Dylan Larkin back at Red Wings practice. Was unable to practice Friday after hit from behind by TBL Mathieu Joseph. pic.twitter.com/bDkvj7TrIN— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) October 18, 2021

Red Wings forward lines

Bertuzzi-Larkin-Raymond
Fabbri-Suter-Zadina
Namestnikov-Rasmussen-Erne
Smith-Stephens/Rowney-Gagner— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) October 18, 2021

#RedWings practices lines/D pairs:
Bertuzzi-Larkin-Raymond
Fabbri-Suter-Zadina
Namestnikov-Rasmussen-Erne
Smith-Stephens-Gagner (Rowney)
DeKeyser-Hronek
Leddy-Seider
Oesterle-Lindstrom
Stecher
Staal is not practicing.— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) October 18, 2021

Red Wings host CBJ Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/vEad16yw8y— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) October 18, 2021

Have not seen Marc Staal out there today yet— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) October 18, 2021

Also: If you’re interested in going to a “viewing party” on Wednesday the 27th, when the Wings play in Washington against the Capitals:

FYI:

We are excited to announce the Jamie Daniels Foundation’s Celebrity Roast of Brett Hull presented by @DeltaDentalMI! It’s sure to be a night of laughs & entertainment while also raising funds for those struggling with Substance Use Disorder.

Learn more: https://t.co/P972w2YglK pic.twitter.com/K3YFXviAUg— Jamie Daniels Foundation (@JDanielsFund) October 18, 2021

Per the Jamie Daniels Foundation’s website:

Tune in Monday, November 22 at 8p.m.!

The Jamie Daniels Foundation Celebrity Roast of Brett Hull will be broadcast on Monday, November 22 at 8 p.m. on Bally Sports Detroit as well as available to watch via livestream! Delta Dental will again serve as presenting sponsor of the event – their third consecutive year. Joining for the first time will be premium energy drink maker Cintron, who will be sponsoring the Roast portion of the televised event.

Hosted by Darren Pang, NHL Broadcaster and former Blackhawks goalie, the panel of roasters and featured performance from Steven Page, former lead singer of The Barenaked Ladies, will guarantee an evening of laughs and entertainment. More importantly though, the Celebrity Roast is an opportunity to bring awareness to a broad audience and raise funds to provide solutions for those seeking help with Substance Use Disorder.

Of prospect-related note from Sweden this morning:

1. IceHockeyGifs has Tweeted out a bit of a summary of a behind-the-paywall article from GP.se:

Fredrik Janlind of https://t.co/wAuNs7oE58 writes:

"His performance is reminiscent of Rasmus Dahlin's breakthrough.

With Dahlin it was the offensive upside that was without equal. With Edvinsson it's the entire package.

He has barely any weaknesses."https://t.co/gp6OGBN2ys

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) October 18, 2021

2. Via Winging It in Motown’s Kyle McIlmurray on Twitter, Rakapuckar’s Henrik Lehman reports that Simon Edvinsson is also practicing on Frolunda HC’s first power play unit, and that’s also good news.

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff cautions Red Wings fans to be patient regarding the team’s strong performances in their first two games:

Fast starts under coach Jeff Blashill are commonplace for the Red Wings. Fantastic finishes are not. In fact, in the majority of seasons under Blashill, the team has broken from the gate effectively.

Last season, the Red Wings were 2-2 after four games. Then came an eight-game losing streak. In 2019-20, the Wings opened 3-1. That was also followed by an eight-game losing streak.

In 2018-19, the Wings got the skid out of the way off the bat. They opened 0-7. A 4-1 launch to the 2017-18 season was immediately followed by a six-game slide.

Blashill’s Red Wings were 5-2 after seven games in 2016-17. Then they lost six in a row. A 3-0 beginning in Blashill’s first season behind the Red Wings bench was followed by four successive losses.

The message here is to keep in mind what Blashill himself likes to talk about. It’s a small sample size. Let’s see where the Red Wings stand after 10 games before making any early assessments about this team.

Continued; the Red Wings play 4 games in 6 nights later this week, hosting Columbus and Calgary before heading to Montreal and Chicago for back-to-backs. Those games should help tell the tale as to what the Wings’ potential really consists of.