Red Wings at significant disadvantage as key forward suffers injury
Photo credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
The Detroit Red Wings continue to be at a significant disadvantage as one of their best secondary scorers remains sidelined due to an injury.
On Wednesday, December 23rd, Detroit Red Wings veteran James van Riemsdyk was hit by a shot in a game against the Dallas Stars.
Since then, he hasn't been able to play, missing the weekend's back-to-back games against the Carolina Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The game against the Canes was a tough one, with the Wings ending up losing 5-2, but they bounced back well to beat the Maple Leafs 3-2.
In Toronto, the team was able to count on Patrick Kane returning to the lineup following an injury.
After the game, another crucial update awaited fans about van Riemsdyk, hinting at a return to the ice in the near future and finally a complete lineup for the Red Wings.
Todd McLellan Shares an Official Update on James van Riemsdyk After 3-2 Win Against the Toronto Maple Leafs
With nine goals, van Riemsdyk has established himself among the top secondary scorers on the team. Indeed, he currently stands fourth among all Red Wings scorers, tied with Emmitt Finnie, only behind Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat, and Lucas Raymond.
In his post-game press conference, Todd McLellan provided an update on the forward's status, saying he is expected to return to practice on Monday:
"Hopefully, we can get him on the ice tomorrow and get him skating. He needs his legs, obviously, to do his job. That shot [against the Dallas Stars last Wednesday] got him in a bad spot."
The Wings have three games in the coming week, including a set of back-to-back games against the Winnipeg Jets and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday and Thursday.
With three days off before the next game, fans are eager to see how JVR's status will evolve.
Stay tuned for more.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 29 | 141 ANSWERS Red Wings at significant disadvantage as key forward suffers injury Do you think James van Riemsdyk will score 20 goals this season? | ||
| Yes | 96 | 68.1 % |
| No | 45 | 31.9 % |
| List of polls | ||