On the eve of two of their biggest games of the NHL season, the Detroit Red Wings were informed that they would likely been playing both of those games minus their top two goal scorers.

Forwards Thomas Vanek and Dylan Larkin, who share the team lead with 12 goals apiece, were injured in Sunday’s 1-0 loss to the New York Rangers.

Larkin, the nature of whose injury was not disclosed, will miss both Tuesday’s game at Boston Bruins against the Bruins and Wednesday’s home tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs, two teams the Wings are pursuing in the race for an Eastern Conference playoff position.

“Larks I’m not counting on for the next two games,” Detroit coach Jeff Blashill told reporters after Monday’s practice. “Vanek is day to day. He will not play in Boston. I wouldn’t rule him out for Wednesday.”

Vanek suffered a lower-body injury in the final moments of Sunday’s opening period and did not return to the game.

“Both guys you can’t replace,” Detroit forward Steve Ott said. “Let’s be honest here.

“We have to pick those guys up kind of collectively. It is a team right now that we’re struggling to score. Some games we score five, some games we score zero. So we have to find some consistency and definitely do it together.”

Jurco in, Miller back
Right-winger Tomas Jurco, a healthy scratch for the past nine games and in 13 of the past 14 games, will draw in to fill one of the available forward openings.

“I’m feeling good,” Jurco said. “I’ve been trying to work hard and stay in good shape. I’m excited for tomorrow. I hope I’m going to be playing some decent minutes and I hope it goes my way.”

Jurco, who missed the start of the season due to summer back surgery, is pointless in 13 games this season but will seek to not press in order to try and to make an impression on Tuesday.

“I’m just going to try and play my game,” Jurco said. “All I need are some lucky bounces. I need to score. I need to make some points. Playing good is not enough for me.

“I can’t just play good because it doesn’t make me stay in the lineup. I have to get some lucky bounce or something has to go my way to help me get some points.”

The other open lineup spot will be filled by Drew Miller, whose tenure off the Red Wings roster barely lasted more than a day. Mille cleared NHL waivers at noon Monday and was assigned to AHL Grand Rapids but was recalled to Detroit later in the day.

Ott Out
The Wings hoped that forward Ott (shoulder) might be available for Tuesday’s game but he still isn’t quite good enough to go.

“It’s getting better,” Ott said of the injury he suffered during the Jan. 1 Centennial Classic against the Toronto Maple Leafs. “I’m trying to practice hard and keep my legs going and feet.

“I’m battling through a little bit of a soreness issue right now but it’s getting close, it’s getting a lot better.”

Ott was injured in a scrap with Leafs forward Matt Martin during the outdoor game at Toronto’s BMO Field.

“Yeah, it was actually when I was in the fight with Martin there, just the way the boards were a lot lower and when I kind of leaned on the boards,” Ott explained. “I tried to grab the boards during the fight and it kind of torqued up my shoulder a little bit.

“Those things happen in fighting and whatnot. Now it’s starting to turn the page I feel.”

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