The Detroit Red Wings are still expecting injured captain Dylan Larkin to rejoin the team this week, although there is no exact timetable.
“I would not expect him probably as early as Tuesday but we’ll get a better feel after that off day on Monday,” coach Derek Lalonde said.
Detroit has home games Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Thursday against the New York Islanders before heading out for a crucial five-game road trip against Nashville, Washington, Carolina, Florida and Tampa Bay.
The road trip starts next Saturday and it seems like it would be critical to have Larkin by then.
“The positive is (Larkin) has taken some steps,” Lalonde said. “He’s skating but I still think we’re a little time out.”
Larkin hasn’t played for the Red Wings since suffering lower body injury on March 2 against the Florida Panthers. The team is 1-5 since then.
The Red Wings halted a seven-game losing streak and moved back into an Eastern Conference wild card spot Saturday by downing the Buffalo Sabres 4-1. Detroit has a one-point lead over the New York Islanders going into the Red Wings’ road game against the Pittsburgh Penguins (6 p.m.).
The Islanders lost 5-2 to the New York Rangers Sunday afternoon. They are 0-3-1 in their last four games. Prior to the losing skid, the Islanders won six in a row.
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