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Red Wings Notebook: A Right Proper Shortage On Detroit Blue Line

Originally posted on Detroit Hockey Now | By Bob Duff | Last updated Oct 11, 2024 9:29 AM ET

Already facing a shortage of rights, the Detroit Red Wings saw another one taken away from them in Thursday’s 6-3 season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Jeff Petry, one of two right-shot defenseman on the Detroit roster, was departing from the game due to an upper-body injury. His status going forward remains unclear.

“Yeah, upper body,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “Hasn’t been evaluated yet.”

Detroit was able to get through last season without any long-term injuries along the blue line. One game into this campaign, there’s already concern regarding the team’s defensive corps.

Moritz Seider is the only right-shot defenseman currently on the roster. If Petry is to be out long-term, look for right-shot D Justin Holl to be summoned from the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins.

“We asked all the lefties to play on their off-hand there and we lost a top-four (defenseman in Petry),” Lalonde

Ghost Of A Chance

Brought in to replace Shayne Gostisbehere, Erik Gustafsson certainly was filling the bill in the opener. The Swedish defenseman did some good work on the power play, collecting an assist.

This play from Geno to DOC pic.twitter.com/j15F4UKtnb

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 11, 2024

At the same time, he was frightful five-on-five. Gustafsson was among six Detroit players who were minus-2 on the night. He was completely turnstiled by Evgeni Malkin on Pittsburgh’s third goal. Meanwhile, his D partner Olli Maatta stood there like the house on the side of the road and watched Drew O’Connor shoot the puck by Detroit goalie Ville Husso.

Crosby Crushes Red Wings

Detroit fans love to hate Sidney Crosby and there may be cause for that. Sid The Kid is an absolute Red Wings killer.

His two-assist performance on Thursday’s win was Crosby’s eighth multi-point game in the last 11 against Detroit. He’s been good for 18-28-46 numbers.

The Pittsburgh captain is a big reason why the Penguins are 10-2-2 in the last 14 against Detroit and 5-2 in their last seven visits to Little Caesars Arena.

Ice Chips

Forward Alex DeBrincat figured in all three Detroit goals, scoring twice and assisting on Vladimir Tarasenko’s first Red Wings goal. DeBrincat recorded 18 multi-point games and seven three-point performances during the 2023-24 campaign . . . Lucas Raymond would collect two assists. Raymond paced the Red Wings with 21 multi-point games in 2023-24, including nine multi-assist outings . . . Seider played his 247th consecutive NHL game, supassing Bryan McCabe for the seventh-longest consecutive game streak by a defenseman from the start of his NHL career.

This article first appeared on Detroit Hockey Now and was syndicated with permission.

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