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Blashill Offers Injury Updates |
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Mike Green is getting close to a finish line, Michael Rasmussen’s status is uncertain and Danny DeKeyser’s status should soon become clearer.
Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill took the time to offer updates on the team’s injured players prior to Tuesday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens and the most hopeful news was that defenseman Green, an NHL All-Star Game selection last season, isn’t far off from a return to the ice from an ankle injury. Green has missed 12 games during his latest ailment.
“We’re hoping on the weekend,” Blashill told Mlive.com. “I don’t think Friday (at Winnipeg) would be a real possibility because it’s back to back but we’d love to have him Saturday (at Minnesota).”
Green also missed time at the start of the season due to a liver infection and the Wings are a dismal 3-13-5 without him in the lineup.
“I think with everybody - Dales (Trevor Daley) and DK being out - we kind of need all of our pieces,” Green said. “Unfortunately, we’ve kind of all been in and out for times and that makes it hard to get wins.”
Daley (foot) is expected to miss 3-5 weeks. DeKeyser (hand) was projected for a 4-6 week absence when he was hurt Dec. 4 and the window is almost up.
“Danny sees the doctor tomorrow morning or tonight,” Blashill said. “We’ll have a better idea where he’s at and if we can start to push it more. Until he saw the specialist we aren’t able to push that yet.
“The good thing is he’s been skating so it won’t be a whole bunch of time he’s out. I’d say the Anaheim game (Jan. 15) is potentially in play.”
Forward Rasmussen will miss his second game Tuesday due to a lower-body injury and his timeframe is also up in the air.
“He still has some pain,” Blashill said. “I don’t think it’ll be a long thing but we’re using this time to kind of reset and get him pain-free and once he’s that then he can get going.
“Whether or not he’s ready for the weekend I don’t have that answer but I don’t expect it longer than that.”
Blashill’s Two Cents
As the Last Men In vote for the NHL All-Star Game continues, Blashill made it a point to note that the format for the game is three-on-three hockey, which is proven to be Larkin’s long suit.
Larkin, one of the players on the Atlantic Division Last Men In ballot, leads the NHL with four goals during three-on-three overtime, already a Red Wings single-season record.
“It’s three-on-three, right?” Blashill noted. “He’s pretty good at three-on-three. What are we picking it on, based on? He’s been an elite three-on-three player this year. He’s got four overtime goals. That’s what the All-Star Game is.
“I think the world of him. He’s certainly deserved of going but so are a number of other guys. If you want highlights and that in three-on-three, he’d be a great pick.”
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