Vanek, Larkin Out With Injuries

With two key divisional games coming up this week, the Detroit Red Wings will be without a pair of their top offensive weapons. According to Red Wings beat writer Ted Kulfan, Detroit GM Ken Holland has announced that both Thomas Vanek (lower-body) and Dylan Larkin (upper-body) are struggling with injuries and are considered day-to-day. Both forwards are staying home from the team’s trip to Boston for a Tuesday night game against the Bruins, while Larkin has already been ruled out of the return to Joe Lewis Arena to host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday as well.

Vanek was hurt in the second period of last night’s 1-0 overtime loss to the New York Rangers and did not return, missing more than half of the contest. However, head coach Jeff Blashill said after the game that he did not think Vanek’s injury was serious, which may lend some hope to Vanek being back for Wednesday night’s game. On the other hand, Larkin played a full game last night, seemingly without incident, and he and linemates Riley Sheahan and Tomas Tatar led all forwards in ice time. Yet, Larkin has been ruled out for the next two games, meaning he won’t skate with the Red Wings for over a week as a result of the upcoming All-Star weekend.

The loss of their two leading goal-scorers comes at a tough time for the Red Wings. Things appeared to finally be coming together last week with three big wins in a row: a rout of the Pittsburgh Penguins, a shutout of the Montreal Canadiens, and a shocking comeback against the Boston Bruins. However, Detroit has been unable to close out back-to-back games in overtime against the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers and still find themselves sitting in sixth place in the Atlantic Division, just a point ahead of Buffalo and the Tampa Bay Lightning. It may be difficult for the Red Wings to keep picking up points with free agent surprise Vanek and sophomore stud Larkin out of the lineup as they go up against the desperate Bruins and upstart Maple Leafs. Detroit is 23rd in scoring and dead last on the power play as it is, set to face Boston’s 10th-ranked defense and second-best penalty kill and Toronto’s 4th-ranked penalty kill and high-flying offense. Two divisional losses would certainly put a damper on the recent comeback attempt and could send the team into All-Star weekend on a sour note. If other forwards can’t step up and score some goals over the next couple of games (or longer), the Red Wings could be back in the basement of the division before they know it.