The Detroit Red Wings are on a three-game losing skid and now find themselves sliding further and further down the Atlantic Division standings. Tied with the Ottawa Senators, they’re just four points ahead of the bottom-dwelling Montreal Canadiens. Perhaps the return of a key forward will spark a turnaround.
Tyler Bertuzzi will make his return to the lineup tomorrow night according to head coach Derek Lalonde, who spoke with reporters including Ansar Khan of MLive. The 27-year-old hasn’t played since November, undergoing surgery on Dec. 2 that ruled him out for six weeks. Now ready to return, he’ll try to build on the outstanding season he had in 2021-22.
Bertuzzi scored 30 goals for the first time last year, while nearly recording a point-per-game for the rebuilding Red Wings. It set him up for a huge platform year this season with unrestricted free agency right around the corner, something that was disrupted by that early injury.
Now, with just a few months left before he potentially hits the open market, he’ll have to make up for the lost time. A quick turnaround for the Red Wings would certainly be welcomed before the club falls completely out of the playoff race.
In the case of Filip Zadina, who was on a similar timeline, the team will have to wait a bit longer. Khan reports that the young forward had a slight setback and is hoping to return next week.
