Red Wings defenseman Jeff Petry is set to make his comeback after recovering from a lower-body injury, as revealed by Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde during a media briefing attended by MLive’s Ansar Khan. Petry, a seasoned player, will be back in action during Saturday’s game in Boston, marking his return to the lineup after being sidelined since October 21st.
Petry’s return highlights the challenge the Red Wings face in managing their surplus of high-quality defensemen. With Petry’s return, the team will need to make a decision on which veteran, like Justin Holl or Olli Määtta, will have to step out of the lineup to accommodate him. Petry himself has been a healthy scratch on occasion this season. This depth in the defense and the flexibility it offers Coach Lalonde in rotating the defensive lineup may have played a part in Detroit’s impressive start to the season.
In other news from the Atlantic Division, Florida Panthers’ head coach Paul Maurice has stated that forward Sam Bennett and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov will be game-time decisions for the team’s upcoming Saturday game against the Seattle Kraken. This update follows our previous coverage on Bennett’s nearing return to the ice, with Maurice clarifying that his presence in the lineup on Saturday is not guaranteed. As for Kulikov, his role alongside Niko Mikkola on the second pairing is crucial, and any absence due to injury would be a significant setback for the Panthers’ defense, which is already lacking in depth.
Furthermore, according to Florida Hockey Now’s George Richards, the Panthers have reassigned forward Mackie Samoskevich to their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. Samoskevich, the team’s 2021 first-round draft pick, initially made the Panthers’ roster but was subsequently sent down for the Checkers’ road trip to Toronto. He was recalled on the 25th and played 8:16 in the Panthers’ last game. Now, he returns to the AHL for what will be his rookie AHL season.
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