Two of Detroit’s veteran forwards will miss tonight’s preseason game with injuries.
Daniel Alfredsson (groin) and Johan Franzen (hip flexor) will be held out of Thursday’s game against Boston, the club announced.
While not cause for major alarm -- it’s only Detroit’s third of eight preseason games -- the injuries have to be considered something of a setback, as Alfredsson and Franzen were projected to skate on the team’s second line between newly acquired center Stephen Weiss.
Given the three are all new to each other, opportunities to play together are key.
Franzen, 33, has yet to skate in a preseason game due to the hip issue, a lingering injury from last season (one that cost him seven regular season contests).
Alfredsson, 40, played in Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to Chicago after sitting out the preseason opener against Pittsburgh.
Despite these injuries, Detroit is still sending a loaded lineup to Boston tonight. Pavel Datsyuk will center Henrik Zetterberg and Justin Abdelkader on the top like while Weiss, Tomas Tatar, Daniel Cleary, Joakim Andersson, Gustav Nyquist and Jordin Tootoo are also projected to be in the lineup.
Jimmy Howard, Niklas Kronwall, Jonathan Ericsson, Jakub Kindl and Danny DeKeyser are expected to dress as well.