Detroit — The sight of forward Lucas Raymond on the ice for Wednesday’s morning skate was a relief for the Red Wings.

Raymond, who missed the last half of Monday’s victory in Toronto after getting hit along the boards, did some on-ice work Wednesday but will miss the game against Florida later in the evening.

“Not going to play (Wednesday), day-to-day, upper body,” said coach Todd McLellan of Raymond’s availability and injury, adding it was encouraging Raymond was already on the ice.

Raymond was checked into the boards by Toronto defenseman Chris Tanev, with Raymond’s right side taking the brunt of the collision along the boards. Raymond skated to the bench but was in visible discomfort. At the next stoppage in play, Raymond headed to the Wings’ locker room.

Raymond already has two goals and an assist in three games this season. Not playing Wednesday ended Raymond’s consecutive games played streak at 191 games. On the Wings, Raymond is behind Alex DeBrincat (377 games) and Moritz Seider (331).

With Raymond unavailable Wednesday, McLellan slid Mason Appleton into Raymond’s spot alongside Dylan Larkin and Emmitt Finnie.

Appleton finished Monday’s game on the line and scored his first goal as a Wing, the game-winner with 45 seconds left in regulation time.

“To win the game, and to score the first one (being) in the organization, it’s an important goal for me,” Appleton said. “It felt good. I don’t know the status (of Raymond), but whatever the opportunity is, you try to take advantage of the opportunity, and I’ll play my game.”

Appleton’s game is a simple up-and-down the ice presence, creating space for linemates, but there’s an offensive part to his game as well, as the game-winner showed. There wasn’t a need, said Appleton, to do much changing in his game to play on the top line.

“A little tweak here or there, but I am who I am as a player and I’ll provide that,” Appleton said. “I’ll complement those guys with my game.”

McLellan liked what he saw out of Appleton with Larkin and Finnie.

“He went into that spot in Toronto for us and he did a good job,” McLellan said. “He’s got some experience. He can play both ends of the rink, which is important. That line takes on not only offensive responsibilities but some defensive ones against the other team’s top players. We think he can give us something on both ends of the rink.”

Talbot’s work load

Maybe it shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise that goaltender Cam Talbot was back in net Wednesday against the Panthers.

McLellan said there isn’t much of a concern of Talbot being overworked considering the Wings haven’t even finished their first week of the regular season.

McLellan hinted goaltender John Gibson, who got the opening night start and was pulled, could be back as soon as Friday when the Wings host Tampa.

“We’re only seven days into the regular season and we’ve played three games (the fourth is Wednesday),” McLellan said. “We’re coming off a day off (Tuesday) and he (Talbot) earned the right to go back in there. We have a game Friday, and we know Gibby has to play and will play well.

“We’re just making a decision for (Wednesday’s game).”

Soderblom returns

Forward Elmer Soderblom had been a healthy scratch the last two games before re-entering the lineup against Florida, with Raymond unavailable.

Soderblom provided the Wings with a spark late last season, using his 6-foot-8 size effectively and producing 11 points (four goals) in 26 games.

McLellan wants to see a more active Soderblom.

“He was able to use his hands and size and pace,” said McLellan, of what made Soderblom effective. “To me, Elmer is a north-south player, and he’s real effective with the puck, and without the puck he has to get more involved to create and keep plays alive for his teammates.”

Soderblom was on a line with James van Riemsdyk and Michael Rasmussen.

Jonatan Berggren was a healthy scratch for a second consecutive game.

Stanley Cup champs

There would be a lot of reasons for Florida to start the season sluggishly after having won the last two Stanley Cups, and having played so much hockey the last several years (they reached the finals and lost to Vegas three seasons ago).

But the Panthers won three of their first four games, even without star forwards Aleksander Barkov (knee, out for season) and Matthew Tkachuk (out until December).

“They’re obviously a real good team,” forward Marco Kasper said. “We know they’ll pressure and we have to be ready for that and battle.”

There are no surprises, said McLellan, in the way the Panthers play.

“There’s not any hesitancy, they play with their foot on the gas,” McLellan said. “Everybody plays the same game. When you win as much as they’ve won, there’s nobody doubting on whether what they do is right. They have players who fit their style and there’s a belief in what they do is the right way, and they do it.

“The proof is in the pudding, so it’s easy to sell.”

tkulfan@detroitnews.com

@tkulfan

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