Sebastian Cossa will likely be in goal Friday night, but he will be playing against the Cleveland Monsters and not the Florida Panthers.
The Detroit Red Wings sent Cossa back to the Grand Rapids Griffins Thursday because Detroit’s No. 1 goalie John Gibson is reporting no lingering complications from the stinger-like injury he suffered last Monday in a 4-2 win against the Nashville Predators.
“Well, I haven’t gone into the trainer’s room. But he looked real good in practice and there’s a number of times I went by and he says, ‘I feel great,’” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said. “I’m assuming that’s he’s ready to go (Friday vs. Florida).”
While the Red Wings have put themselves in a good position to end a nine-year NHL playoff drought, they clearly have no intention to take their foot off the gas. If Gibson says he’s ready to go, they want him back in the lineup.
The other good news for coach Todd McLellan’s team is Dylan Larkin wasn’t seriously injured by a heavy hit in front of the Vegas net near the end of the 4-3 overtime loss to the Golden Knights. Larkin didn’t practice Thursday.
“He’s doing good,” McLellan said. “Getting a maintenance day. Him and (Andrew Copp). . . It’s that time of year. Bumps and bruises all over the place. And they’ll be ready to play tomorrow.”
The Red Wings will be playing Atlantic Division rival Florida, starting four hours after the NHL trade deadline.
Larkin is sore. ” But there’s no damage or anything like that,” McLellan said. “Should be good.”