The Detroit Red Wings are focusing on maximizing their practice time amidst a demanding schedule. On Monday, the team practiced at Little Caesars Arena's BELFOR Training Center in preparation for a challenging series of three games over four nights, starting Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks.
"This condensed schedule with the international break this year, it's going to be a grind," said Detroit head coach Derek Lalonde. He emphasized the limited practice time available and its impact on performance, noting that their recent 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres might reflect this scarcity. Despite two forwards being absent from practice, Lalonde stated they could still work on key areas.
Captain Dylan Larkin and Patrick Kane were the two players missing from practice but are expected to play against the Blackhawks. "More maintenance, bumps and bruises," explained Lalonde regarding their absence. The decision to rest them was advised by the medical staff due to upcoming back-to-back games and travel demands.
Lalonde provided an optimistic update on Tyler Motte, who returned to practice after being sidelined since October 17 with a lower-body injury. "He's in a good spot right now," said Lalonde about Motte's progress. Motte may be available for Wednesday's game as he continues his recovery.
Motte expressed his eagerness to return to action, having joined the Red Wings in July on a one-year free-agent contract. "I felt pretty good through the preseason and learned the systems pretty easily," he said. Motte acknowledged some early-season challenges but remains confident in his ability to adapt quickly.
Reflecting on the team's performance so far this season, Motte identified areas for improvement, particularly in special teams play. "Obviously there's areas to improve," he noted, mentioning recent successes in power plays and penalty kills while emphasizing consistent 5-on-5 gameplay as an ongoing goal.
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