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Larkin Good To Go; Nielsen, Athanasiou back in action |
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As the Detroit Red Wings prepared to face the New York Rangers Friday at Little Caesars Arena, there was plenty of good news on the injury front.
Center Dylan Larkin, who briefly left Tuesday’s 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks - only to return and net the winner in the shootout - was given a clean bill of health after taking one day off from practice.
“I feel better, a lot better,” Larkin told Mlive.com. “Got some treatment and just needed a day to recover.”
Larkin chalked up his undisclosed injury to a fluke collision.
“I got tangled up with a guy in the corner and it came from behind, so it could have been worse but it is what it is,” Larkin said. “Part of the game. Lucky I’m alright.”
The Wings will also get back both Andreas Athanasiou (leg injury) and Frans Nielsen (concussion) in time for Friday’s game. Both forwards have missed the last four games.
“I plan on both of them being in,” Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said.
This sudden abundance of forwards led the Wings to return forward Christoffer Ehn to AHL Grand Rapids.
Jimmy vs. The King
Friday’s goalie matchup will pit Detroit’s Jimmy Howard against former Vezina Trophy winner Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers and historically, it’s been a good one.
“They’ve had great battles,” Blashill said. “They’ve both had some unreal games against each other. I’m not sure why. I can’t put a finger on that. When we’re in New York, maybe a little extra significance for Howie (who is from Syracuse, N.Y.)
“They’ve had great, great battles in the time I’ve been here. It’s really been amazing. I hope one guy is great tonight and the other is not but I don’t think that’ll happen.”
Lundqvist is 7-4-4 lifetime vs. the Red Wings, with a 1.96 GAA, .937 save percentage and four shutouts.
“I know he’s going to play well,” Howard said. “He’s not going to give up very many and I’ve got to just raise my game a little bit more.”
Howard is 3-0-0 in his past three starts, with a 2.59 goals-against average and .925 save percentage. He is 7-3-3 lifetime against the Rangers, with a 1.74 GAA and .949 save percentage.
“It’s no secret around here, everyone knows that the Rangers were my childhood team growing up, being a New York boy,” Howard said. “(Former Rangers goalie Mike Richter was my idol.
“I just really enjoy going out there and playing against the Rangers.”
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