To say that the injury bug has taken a chunk of the Red Wings this season would be a gross understatement. The team has been without a number of key contributors including star forward Pavel Datsyuk, but help is on the way!
Danny DeKeyser (foot) and Darren Helm (concussion/shoulder) will both make their regular season debuts in Saturday night’s game against Montreal.
DeKeyser had been out since Sep. 30 because of strained ligaments in his left foot, while Helm was injured after colliding with prospect Jerome Vellier.
According to the team’s website, DeKeyser will be paired with veteran Mike Green.
“I think once we’re both healthy and moving out there, I think we’ll be a pretty good D pairing together,” DeKeyser said of he and Green playing together. “We haven’t played much together yet, a little bit in training camp and then to start the preseason but then he went down and then came back, then I went down. We’ll just have to get that chemistry as the game goes on.”
Helm is expected to play in Detroit’s bottom-six with Drew Miller and Joakim Andersson.
“He’s going to start me with Millsie and Andy and just see how things go, get my legs moving and get into the game slowly,” said Helm. “Get into the season slowly and pick up the pace.”
The Wings will be making four lineup changes after Friday’s loss to Carolina:
With Andersson, DeKeyser and Helm making their season debuts for the #RedWings tonight, Ferraro, Jurco and Smith will be healthy scratches.
— Bill Roose (@Bill_Roose) October 17, 2015
After getting the night off against the ‘Canes, Petr Mrazek will be between the pipes in Montreal.