Ducks-Red Wings Preview 5-4-13
The Detroit Red Wings had a setback during their series-evening victory at Anaheim.
Detroit defenseman Danny DeKeyser broke his right thumb in the third period of the 5-4 overtime win in Game 2 on Thursday night, and is out for rest of the playoffs.
DeKeyser signed with the Red Wings on March 29, soon after finishing his college career at Western Michigan.
"It was a big loss and it's hard to believe a kid out of college would be a big loss, but he is," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said Friday night after stepping off the team plane.
Babcock has said the Red Wings wouldn't have rallied for a spot in a 22nd straight postseason without DeKeyser.
Now, they have to try to advance without him on the blue line.
Babcock is putting another rookie in the lineup, Brian Lashoff, instead of one of two veterans, Ian White and Carlo Colaiacovo.
"He's smart, knows how to play and competes hard," Babcock said. "He makes a good first pass and he's a good penalty-killer."
Detroit blew a three-goal lead in the third period of Game 2 against the Ducks, who sent the game to an overtime that ended quickly. Gustav Nyquist scored a power-play goal 1:21 in the period.
The seventh-seeded Red Wings hope home ice is an advantage against second-seeded Anaheim that helps them take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series Saturday night in Game 3.
Click HERE for the full game preview.
