The Detroit Red Wings will play the second half of a back-to-back tonight against the New Jersey Devils. They won the first game last night, 7-6, against the Philadelphia Flyers. Patrick Kane scored two goals and had an assist but also scored the game-winner in the shootout to secure the win for Detroit. The Red Wings lost Olli Maatta last night to injury, and he didn’t return. Red Wings head coach Derek LaLonde said Maatta would be out for tonight’s game, and with that the Detroit Red Wings have called up Simon Edvinsson from their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Simon Edvinsson By The Numbers
Last season, Edvinsson made his NHL debut with the Red Wings; he spent most of his time in the AHL playing in 52 games and recording 27 points on five goals and 22 assists. When he got to Detroit last season, he played nine games and recorded two points on goals. After training camp entering this season, he was assigned to the Griffins in the AHL due to the surplus of defensemen the Red Wings had on the roster. After the recent struggles of Detroit, fans had been calling for this move, but it comes due to an injury; this season at Grand Rapids, Edvinsson has been a production machine, playing in 25 games and recording 16 points on six goals and ten assists; two of his goals also came on the power-play for Grand Rapids.
Wrap Up
It remains to be seen if Edvinsson will slide into the lineup tonight with the Red Wings still having six defensemen dressed. However, Jake Walman was scratched for Detroit in last night’s game, so if he does sit out again tonight, Edvinsson will find himself in the lineup in a crucial game against the Devils heading into the Christmas break.
