Update (1:18 PM): MacLeod’s update to the below linked post: No Fil tomorrow (as expected) but Saturday’s likely, if cleared. Also, the lines probably won’t remain as listed since Ritola hasn’t played center in years. - Matt
Bruce MacLeod reports that Valtteri Filppula participated in drills with the fourth line this morning. He skated and took part in some drills last week, but it sounds like he was more seriously involved this time. That’s a good sign that he’s on schedule for a return next week.
By the way, Ritola rotated in on the fourth line. It seems he’ll be the center of that unit tomorrow night. A lot of pressure for the guy coming in for a look to play a different position.
No disrespect meant to them, but how scary is it that our 2nd line is Draper-Helm-Eaves? C’mon back Fil, we need ya.
Very scary. Fil’ll be a definite upgrade…but even then, it’s a ways off from being scary the other way.
I thought it odd that they’d have Ritola play centre. Even with Fil and Z out, we’ve still got four solid centres so there’s no need to have Ritola play in a position he’s not accustomed to (at least recently).
Yeah, like until March. Although I still think the Wings are in good shape playoff wise. There is no way Columbus stays ahead of Detroit with the defense they are playing. Hitchcock declared prior to yesterdays game that the starting goalie job was up for grabs, and Garon promptly got lit up to the tune of 5 goals on 23 shots. Detroit should still end up #2 in the Central, I don’t see them catching Chicago with all the injuries, unless they can stay close enough until March. I haven’t looked yet, but Detroit and Chicago typically play each other a lot in April, so maybe, but I doubt it.