Wednesday’s post-practice Tweets: Larkin on the Olympics, Blashill on call-ups

Okay, so the Red Wings practiced on Wednesday minus Tyler Bertuzzi (maintenance), as well as Robby Fabbri and Michael Rasmussen (COVID protocols) ahead of Thursday’s game vs. the Carolina Hurricanes, which is still scheduled to take place as of now.

The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported that the Canes may go with 16 skaters and 2 goalies due to salary cap constraints; they still possess a 19-7-and-1 record, and their most recent loss (in Vancouver) snapped a 4-game winning streak.

The shorthanded “Jerks” will be looking to stick it to Nedeljkovic and the 14-12-and-3 Wings on Thursday, so the Red Wings better be at their best as they head to Raleigh tomorrow night.

After Wednesday’s practice, Dylan Larkin spoke with the media, and he addressed more than the state of the Wings…

Larkin, on the Olympics: “I think it’s … There’s a lot going on right now. We’re dealing with COVID here. We had calls and talks, and you guys read the reports on what it could be like in China, and that’s unfortunate, but it is what it is.”— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) December 15, 2021

Larkin, on the Olympics (continued): “It would be very unfortunate to get stuck in quarantine for that long, and you know, [there’s] a serious unknown of when you come home. So I think it’s unfortunate for all athletes.”— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) December 15, 2021

(Players who test positive for COVID in China may be stuck there for 3-5 weeks)

And coach Jeff Blashill addressed the Wings’ COVID situation:

Coach Blashill says they will call up players today, with the absence of a few guys on the team. When asked if it would be Jonatan Berggren, he said no. He doesn’t want to throw off Berggren’s confidence when he’s playing so well in the AHL. #LGRW— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) December 15, 2021

Good news here:

Maintenance day for Bertuzzi but expected to be available tomorrow— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) December 15, 2021

Toledo Walleye announce Red Wings Alums who will take part in their alumni game at Winterfest

Per the Toledo Walleye:

JUST ANNOUNCED: Darren McCarty, Joey Kocur, and more will compete for the @DetroitRedWings during the #Winterfest2021 Alumni Game. ??

?️: https://t.co/AOu31vz1gL pic.twitter.com/Jx8r0LRXSk— Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) December 15, 2021

Tweet of note: If you’re in Gander, Newfoundland this weekend…

FYI:

The @Rogers #HometownHockey tour is making its way over to Gander, NL and we’re bringing you a special guest!

NHL alumni, Daniel Cleary will be joining us all weekend for autograph signings! ?

FREE tickets are available now: https://t.co/txmfDXzCFO pic.twitter.com/zd7moPGOcJ— Rogers Hometown Hockey (@hometownhockey_) December 15, 2021

The Hockey News’s power rankings: Hey Ned

The Hockey News’s Jason Chen posted a set of power rankings today, and he mentions the Red Wings’ goaltender in his rankings:

20. Detroit Red Wings (14-12-3, -17. CF%: 30th, xGF%: 23rd. Last Week: 20)

Admittedly, the Wings faced three tough teams during their losing streak – Preds, Blues, Avs – and Alex Nedeljkovic has been quite good this season even though there were doubts about his ability to be a starting goalie (ahem, Carolina).

Continued

Tweets from Wednesday’s practice: Fabbri and Rasmussen in COVID protocol, Bertuzzi absent

The Red Wings hit the ice at Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday afternoon hoping to build a foundation for a winning streak, with last night’s 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders still in the Wings’ minds as they prepare for a Thursday night game vs. the COVID-decimated but ever-dangerous Carolina Hurricanes in the offing(???).

The Wings got their own bad news on Wednesday as Robby Fabbri and Michael Rasmussen were placed in COVID protocols, taking two important contributors off the Wings’ roster.

And, well…

Don’t see Tyler Bertuzzi out there for Red Wings practice today pic.twitter.com/A4s0tj0A8P— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) December 15, 2021

Ugh. Bertuzzi not at practicing today either. Hopefully just a maintenance day. https://t.co/GMl3VVmNGP— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) December 15, 2021

Hurricanes announce that Thursday’s game vs. the Red Wings is still ‘on’

From Twitter:

Tomorrow’s game vs. Detroit is ON! #LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/BjU35zNOvV— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) December 15, 2021

Update from the Canes after zero positive cases today https://t.co/9Z8abQZvzJ— Sara Civ (@SaraCivian) December 15, 2021

The Raleigh News & Observer’s Chip Alexander confirms:

The Canes’ scheduled home game Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings will be played. That decision was made a day after the Canes’ road game at Minnesota was postponed because of the Canes’ COVID issues.

It has been a rough stretch of days for Carolina. First, forwards Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis entered the COVID protocol Monday. Aho had been held out of Sunday’s game in Vancouver, but then tested positive for the coronavirus. Then, Jarvis and a team trainer, who has not been name, entered the protocol.

The Canes, after four games in Canada, were to finish their road trip Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. But after further COVID testing, forwards Jordan Staal, Andrei Svechnikov, Steven Lorentz, and defenseman Ian Cole were placed in the protocol.

The new positives came just as defensemen Brett Pesce and Tony DeAngelo were set to return to the lineup after their stint on the protocol list. The two D-men had not played since Nov. 28 against the Washington Capitals, missing seven games.

At this point, plan is for the Hurricanes to ice a lineup that’s short two skaters under normal lineup. But it’s play on at the moment. https://t.co/ESYeXdbxjB— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) December 15, 2021

Roughly Translated: Rakapuckar’s Henrik Lehman weighs in on Simon Edvinsson’s possible WJC performance-to-come

Of Swedish Red Wings-related note today: Rakapuckar’s Henrik Lehman posted a lengthy write-up regarding Simon Edvinsson’s participation the the upcoming World Junior Championship for Sweden. What follows is roughly translated from Swedish:

Continue reading Roughly Translated: Rakapuckar’s Henrik Lehman weighs in on Simon Edvinsson’s possible WJC performance-to-come

Tweet of note: LeBrun says that the Red Wings-Hurricanes game is still ‘on’ for Thursday. For now.

FYI, via DetroitHockey.net‘s Clark Rasmussen on Twitter:

The Carolina Hurricanes did not have any more players test positive today… so unless something changes, it would appear Thursday’s Detroit-Carolina game is a go at this point. Unless there’s positive tests tomorrow. Then that might surely change things.— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) December 15, 2021