The Detroit Red Wings’ depth at center is about to face a major challenge as they prepare to square off against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Red Wings’ bench boss, Todd McLellan, shared that the team will be without the services of key centers Andrew Copp and Michael Rasmussen due to injuries.
Copp, whose specific injury remains undisclosed, has been put on injury reserve following an incident during Saturday’s game. Rasmussen, on the other hand, was sidelined after enduring a hit to the head Sunday from Anaheim Ducks’ forward Trevor Zegras, an action that earned Zegras a three-game suspension from the league on Monday.
While the absence of these key players may seem like a setback, McLellan sees it as an opportunity for other players to step up and fill the gap. Two names that come up are Christian Fischer and Tyler Motte. In a significant move on Monday, the team also recalled Sheldon Dries, a center from their AHL affiliate, Grand Rapids.
With 122 career games under his belt, the 30-year-old Dries will be making his debut for the Red Wings if he plays on Tuesday. His career stats boast 16 goals and 10 assists over five seasons with Colorado and Vancouver. McLellan emphasizes that this is a chance for the team to showcase their strength despite adversity.
Meanwhile, the Wild are no strangers to the thrill of victory, riding high on a three-game winning streak, including an exhilarating 4-3 overtime win against the Detroit team in their most recent face-off on Saturday. The Wild have emerged victorious in six of their last eight games, although they too have their share of injury concerns, with top forward Kirill Kaprizov out due to a lower-body injury.
The Wild’s recent triumphs can be attributed to the stellar performances of defenseman Brock Faber and forward Matt Boldy. Both players recently made a significant impact on the international stage, representing Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off. This will mark their first game back in Minnesota since the tournament.
Wild’s coach, John Hynes, expressed his satisfaction with both players, highlighting their consistent performance throughout the tournament. Hynes believes this experience will only strengthen their regular season play.
On the Red Wings’ side, Lucas Raymond tops the team with 63 points, comprising 22 goals and a team-high 41 assists in 57 games. Dylan Larkin is next in line with 53 points, followed by Alex DeBrincat with 49 points. As for the Wild, following Kaprizov, Matt Boldy is their top scorer with 50 points, while Marco Rossi stands third with 49 points.
This upcoming match will not only test the Red Wings’ resilience but also the Wild’s ability to maintain their winning momentum despite key injuries.
