Kulfan’s game-day notebook: Fabbri’s line needs to step up

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed a game-day notebook this afternoon, discussing the Red Wings’ need to find some secondary scoring from the second line of Robby Fabbri, Pius Suter and Filip Zadina:

“The top line has done a great job for us, keeping us in and winning games,” [Robby] Fabbri said. “It’s up to the other nine or 10 forwards that get in to help out. It starts with burying your chances.”

Fabbri, now in his third season with the Wings, was expected to be a major contributor this season. But with three goals and five assists (eight points), Fabbri has been off his expected pace.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself to be part of that secondary scoring,” Fabbri said. “It hasn’t been going in right now, but the line has been confident with the chances we’ve been getting, with what we’ve been creating. We just got to stick with it and eventually it will go in.”

The positive is, the Suter line has been getting chances with a good number of shots on net, and quality scoring opportunities, at that. But it still hasn’t resulted in enough offense.

“As a line we’re getting about 10 shots a game; you’re pretty happy with that to start,” Fabbri said. “What we’re creating from our D-zone to the offensive zone, it’s been great. Just working on getting the puck over the (goal) line.”

Continued

Your, um, Blues…game-day notebook?

StLouisBlues.com’s Chris Pinkert posted a game-day notebook article ahead of tonight’s game vs. the Detroit Red Wings, and it’s worth your time to give Pinkert’s work a look as he sets up tonight’s game from the Blues’ perspective–and the Blues are absolutely delighted to have Brayden Schenn returning to the lineup this evening:

Now everyone is healthy, and that includes Brayden Schenn, who will return to the lineup Wednesday after missing nine games with an upper-body injury.

“It’s really good to see (Schenn) back,” said Blues Head Coach Craig Berube. “He pushed (to come back) even last game, but we held him out. He’s good to go. He’s a very good player for us, two-way player, we know that. He can provide offense for us, but he plays a hard game. He does a lot of things for us.

“His play on the ice, he leads by example,” Berube added. “He’s been a guy that’s been around for a long time now, he’s played a lot of good hockey in his career. He demands things, represents our team a certain way. From hard work, the way he plays the game, it rubs off on the rest of our team.”

On Wednesday morning, Schenn was centering a line with Brandon Saad and Jordan Kyrou, and that’s where he’s likely to play when the Blues meet the Detroit Red Wings at 7:30 p.m. (BSMW, 101 ESPN). With a full roster, Berube has some flexibility in deciding his lineup.

“We moved some guys around because we had to with Schenn back,” Berube said. “It’s good to be healthy and have moving parts in your lineup. It doesn’t get stale that way. It’s just more balance with Schenner back, down the middle of the ice, we’re pretty strong in my opinion. We have other guys that are playing wing that can play center. That’s a good position to be deep in.”

With Schenn back, James Neal looks to be sitting out on Wednesday.

Ville Husso is likely to start in goal. Husso is 2-0-0 this season with a 0.50 goals-against average and a .984 save-percentage. He has given up just one goal on 61 shots this season.

The Blues are dressing the following lineup, per 101 ESPN…

#stlblues projected lineup vs. #LGRW:

Forwards
Barbashev – O’Reilly – Perron
Buchnevich – Thomas – Tarasenko
Saad – Schenn – Kyrou
Kostin – Bozak – Sundqvist

Defense
Scandella – Parayko
Krug – Faulk
Mikkola – Perunovich

Goalie
Husso

? Puck Drop at 6:30pm on 101 ESPN ? pic.twitter.com/ppGh2ts43X— 101 ESPN St. Louis (@101espn) November 24, 2021

And there is some good news from DetroitHockey.net’s Clark Rasmussen:

Stupid Stat of the Day: The Red Wings are unbeaten all-time in games played against the St. Louis Blues on the Wednesday before American Thanksgiving. pic.twitter.com/rQpvAcq658— DetroitHockey.Net (@detroithockey96) November 24, 2021

4-and-0…

Khan’s game-day notebook: Raymond, Seider adapting to ‘relentless’ NHL

MLive’s Ansar Khan has already filed his game-day notebook article, discussing the fact that Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider have risen to face and conquer the challenges with which the 82-game NHL schedule presents them:

The Red Wings (8-9-3) face the St. Louis Blues (10-6-2) tonight at Little Caesars Arena (7:30, Bally Sports Detroit Plus). Detroit is winless in four (0-3-1) but hopes a three-day break after playing 20 games in 38 days will re-energize the team.

“I thought our whole team kind of petered out a little bit as (the trip) went along,” [Red Wings coach Jeff] Blashill said. “Certainly, our young players would have been in that mix. I think one of the most important things you have to do in the NHL is learning how to play when you’re tired and you don’t have your legs and how to play smart. I think that helps some of our young players, certainly Seider and Raymond are both smart players, so they can help manage it. But it’s hard to be dynamic when you don’t have your legs. You’re kind of finding ways to equal shifts instead of really attacking. It’s part of the learning process.”

Raymond (seven goals, 12 assist) leads the Red Wings and all NHL rookies with 19 points. Seider (two goals, 11 assists) is second among league rookies with 13 points. Raymond, 19, played only 44 games last season in Sweden, between league play and tournaments, in a season cut short due to elbow surgery. Seider appeared in 61 games between his season in Sweden and international events with Germany.

“Of course, it’s a lot of games (this season), but it’s fun as well,” Raymond said. “Everyone wants to play games. But of course, it’s an intense schedule and especially we have had a lot of games compared to other teams, but I think we just got to accept it, stick with and make the best of the situation.”

Taking care of yourself off the ice is vital.

“You got to get the right sleep, eat a lot, and eat good and just stay focused, not let up on your details,” Raymond said.

Continued; the fact that Raymond’s mom is a fitness coach doesn’t hurt.

Tweet of note: Fabbri says ‘hi’ to his old teammates (and Blues morning skate Tweets)

The St. Louis Blues are currently holding their morning skate ahead of tonight’s game vs. the Red Wings (7:30 PM EST on Bally Sports Detroit Plus/Bally Sports Midwest/97.1 FM), and Robby Fabbri poked his head out of the locker room to say “hi” to his former teammates:

Good seeing an old friend.

Tonight’s game will be the first time we’ve played against Robby Fabbri since the trade with Detroit in Nov. 8, 2019. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/NAo1WqXCM2— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) November 24, 2021

I’ll try to update this post with anything of note from the Blues’ side of the ice.

Update: Per the St. Louis Post-Distpach’s Jim Thomas:

Looks like Schenn’s in:
Barbashev-O’Reilly-Perron
Saad-Schenn-Kyrou
Buchnevich-Thomas-Tarasenko
Kostin-Bozak-Sundqvist— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) November 24, 2021

Scandella-Parayko
Krug-Faulk
Mikkola-Perunovich— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) November 24, 2021

Husso first off the ice.— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) November 24, 2021

We also knew this was happening:

From Craig Berube: Brayden Schenn (upper body injury) will return tonight against the #RedWings. Missed the past nine games. Said Schenn pushed to play the last game. #stlblues— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) November 24, 2021

Neal came out on the ice for the start of practice, but then left. Berube said he tweaked something that had been bothering him previously, so it was kind of a maintenance day. He’s not in the lineup tonight.— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) November 24, 2021

Sportsnet’s Sadler talks ‘quarter pole’ NHL Awards races

Sportsnet’s Emily Sadler posted an article handicapping the NHL’s major award races at the NHL’s “quarter pole,” and she notes that both Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider are in the running for the Calder Trophy:

CALDER TROPHY

Quarter-season winner: Lucas Raymond, F, Red Wings
In 34 Swedish Hockey League games last year after being drafted fourth overall by Detroit in 2020, Raymond registered six goals and 18 points. Now 20 games into his NHL career, the 19-year-old Swede already has seven goals and a team-leading 19 points and is playing like a veteran on the Red Wings’ top line. He sits atop the rookie stat sheet across all categories, and is on pace for greatness.

More rookies making their mark:

• Moritz Seider, D, Red Wings: The surprise sixth-overall selection of the 2019 draft is making plenty of plays from Detroit’s blue line… and this time, no one’s surprised.
• Dawson Mercer, F, Devils: Six goals and 12 points through 16 games so far has the rookie forward leading his team on the stat sheet.
• Trevor Zegras, F, Ducks: With the Ducks’ youth movement well underway, there’s a lot to be excited about in Anaheim (see: Terry, Troy). We saw flashes of brilliance during Zegras’ 24-game stint last season and this year it’s clear he’s here to stay.

Continued; don’t count Cole Caufield out yet…

Red Wings post-morning skate videos: Raymond on Thanksgiving, and Blashill, briefly

Okay, so there was a bit of an information blackout coming from the Red Wings’ morning skate ahead of tonight’s game against the St. Louis Blues (7:30 PM on Bally Sports Detroit Plus/Bally Sports Midwest/97.1 FM).

It would be safe to assume that it’s Thomas Greiss’ turn to start opposite Jordan Binnington in the Blues’ cage, and the Red Wings-Blues game preview I wrote last night goes into more depth regarding both teams’ lineups, with a note that Brayden Schenn is expected to return to St. Louis’ lineup this evening.

The Free Press’s Helene St. James was first out of the chute with a Wings morning skate video, a 1:59 clip of Lucas Raymond speaking with the media about nutrition, sleep, and American Thanksgiving:

Here’s Raymond’s full 4:13 media availability…

And coach Jeff Blashill speaking for only 2:52:

Red Wings-Blues post-morning skate Tweets: A bit ‘o Raymond, Wings-Blues stats and a ‘behind the paywall’ article

The Detroit Red Wings say hello to an old friend tonight as the Wings host the St. Louis Blues this evening at Little Caesars Arena (7:30 PM EST on Bally Sports Detroit Plus/Bally Sports Midwest/97.1 FM).

The Red Wings are 8-9-and-3 and want to get back to .500 tonight, snapping their 0-3-and-1 road streak as they return to Southeastern Michigan for a 2-game home stand; the Blues sit at 10-6-and-2 and are coming off a 5-2 win over Vegas on Monday, and the Blues are going to be fully healthy tonight as Brayden Schenn returns to the lineup.

Before the morning skate, the Red Wings recalled Dan Renouf from Grand Rapids and placed Troy Stecher on injured reserve.

Between Stecher and Mitchell Stephens’ injuries, we may see a rotating cast of characters coming and going from Grand Rapids until Stecher and Stephens return after the Olympic Break.

Anyway, the Wings took to the ice at Little Caesars Arena just before 10:30 AM for their morning skate, and the Wings themselves were the first to say, “Hi” on Twitter:

Boys are back in town. ?

? » https://t.co/a1ZFiGyALB pic.twitter.com/Kv3OAXZkuM— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 24, 2021

The lack of morning skate Tweets from the beat writers was downright weird, so we moved on to the post-morning skate media availabilities:

Lucas Raymond speaking on where the team is at— saying it was a rough road trip but they have a good opportunity here at home to get back on track #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) November 24, 2021

I feel a little better now…

Talking Turkey:

The Red Wings are 23-11-1-2 on Thanksgiving Eve at home

Detroit is 4-0 vs St Louis on Thanksgiving Eve with all 4 wins coming at JLA— Ken Kal (@KenKalDRW) November 24, 2021

And behind the paywall…

New Pro Reads features @alexned_ sharing tips and tactics in desperation save moments — that’s right, it’s not all another raw athleticism, having a plan helps even on broken plays: https://t.co/zaSs4x2u2O pic.twitter.com/l55vra5Mvt— InGoal Magazine (@InGoalMedia) November 24, 2021

Press release: Griffins sign Blake Hillman to pro try-out with Renouf headed to Detroit

Per the Grand Rapids Griffins:

DETROIT RECALLS RENOUF, GRAND RAPIDS SIGNS HILLMAN

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday recalled defenseman Dan Renouf from the Grand Rapids Griffins. In addition, the Griffins signed blueliner Blake Hillman to a professional tryout. 

Renouf has appeared in 11 games this season for Grand Rapids, totaling two assists, 15 penalty minutes and a plus-three rating. The Pickering, Ontario, native will head back to Detroit for the second time in his career, as he made his NHL debut with the Red Wings on March 27, 2017 at Carolina. The 27-year-old is a sixth-year pro and played in 18 NHL games a season ago with Colorado, logging three assists and 16 penalty minutes.

Hillman comes to Grand Rapids from the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye. The defenseman has registered 13 points (2-11—13) in 11 games this season, which ranks third in the ECHL among blueliners. His 11 assists pace the league’s defensemen while his plus-10 rating is tied for third. The Elk River, Minn., native has skated in 66 AHL games with Rockford, Grand Rapids and Stockton. During the 2019-20 season, Hillman suited up in five contests with the Griffins and totaled one assist and four penalty minutes. 

UPDATE: The Red Wings on Tuesday recalled defenseman Dan Renouf. In addition, the Griffins signed blueliner Blake Hillman to a professional tryout. #GoGRG

Details >> https://t.co/L35wS8LQ2L pic.twitter.com/eWVnOzlvNT— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) November 24, 2021

Red Wings recall Dan Renouf, place Troy Stecher on IR

For depth purposes: