Injury Update: Tarasenko Still Battling Flu as Motte Approaches Return
An update on the Red Wings' health status heading into Saturday's game against Buffalo
Today, the Detroit Red Wings (4-5-1) held practice after last night's humbling loss to the league-leading Winnipeg Jets. The practice allowed for a status update on two injured Red Wings ahead of Saturday's game against the Buffalo Sabres: Tyler Motte and Vladimir Tarasenko (who, strictly speaking, is dealing with illness rather than injury).
At that practice, forward Tyler Motte (out since Oct. 17 with an upper body injury) was a fuller participant than he'd been at his first practice back with the group two days prior. He participated in line rushes and absorbed contact during live five-on-five drills.
"It's getting close," said Derek Lalonde, when asked about Motte's status for Saturday. "It's a good question in that we literally had that talk [as a coaching staff]. I think it was important for our training staff to get him through two heavier practices, which we had today, and we'll have tomorrow. And where he is, it's more [about] taking hits. Probably more of a post-practice feel on him tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Tarasenko missed last night's game with the flu bug that has been running through Detroit's dressing room throughout much of the early season and did not skate Thursday afternoon. "Tarasenko [is] getting over the flu," Lalonde said. "Obviously not here today, so hopefully he'll come around. If it's kinda that same bug that's went through our entire team, hopefully it is and the time frame, he should start coming around the next day or two. We hope to have him for Saturday."
Detroit returned forward Austin Watson (who played 9:06 last night, filling in for Tarasenko, and throwing four hits) to Grand Rapids this morning, suggesting that the team is reasonably confident one of Motte or Tarasenko will be available Saturday, though the Red Wings could of course bring Watson back up should it prove necessary.