The Detroit Red Wings split the home-and-home with the St. Louis Blues this week on the backs of Magnus Hellberg and Alex Nedeljkovic. The Red Wings opted to switch things up and give Hellberg the nod in Tuesday’s shootout victory.
Things did not go well for Hellberg and Nedeljkovic on Thursday as the Blues got the best of them in a 4-3 win over Detroit. However, Ville Husso remained absent. During Thursday’s telecast, Trevor Thompson reported about Husso and a lower-body injury that is nagging the netminder.
Thompson noted that Husso is listed as day-to-day with his injury. It’s a lower-body injury that requires further testing before making a decision. This means that the Red Wings are going to be without Husso through the weekend.
#RedWings Lalonde said Husso (lower body injury) not available Saturday in Philly as he's going through some tests. So, either Hellberg or Nedeljkovic starts.
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) March 24, 2023
The tweet says that the Red Wings will be without their no.1 option in net and will be turning to Hellberg or Nedelhkovic against the Flyers. This could be interesting to see how the Red Wings play this out with Nedeljkovic back on the roster, looking to get some looks in.
Detroit Red Wings will be without Ville Husso through the weekend.
Husso having an ailing lower-body injury could mean a few things. To be clear, the Red Wings’ netminder has played quite poorly as of late. He’s been unable to be solid in net and has allowed some soft goals and allowed plenty of them.
Not to sit here and make excuses, but the Red Wings netminder may have been dealing with his injury. It could have definitely played a role in the struggles that Husso has shown as of late. But taking it a step earlier.
But, after two starts to Hellberg in the home-and-home against the Blues, it could very well become a chance for Nedeljkovic to get a look. He came in to relieve Hellberg on Thursday, but he might get a start being that he is up with the NHL team in the absence of Husso.
Hellberg is playing to earn an extension next season, and Nedeljkovic is playing to try and lock down a chance to return to the NHL level, so both netminders have motivation. The Red Wings are trying to figure out what’s best for their goaltending situation moving forward, and a prolonged absence from Husso could allow that chance for Hellberg and Nedeljkovic to battle it out.
While Hellberg seems like the safe play to bring him back on a one-year deal, Nedeljkovic is the people’s choice. So with Husso continuing to remain on the sidelines, it will be interesting to see how things go for the Red Wings’ goalie situation.