Tough break for Dan Cleary in a 4-2 win over Edmonton Wednesday night. The Red Wings forward was knocked into the Detroit bench door by Edmonton’s Ben Eager midway through the second period, forcing him from the contest. (FF to :40)
The Wings didn’t reveal what injury Cleary suffered on the play, or its significance — head coach Mike Babcock only confirmed the 33-year-old was questionable for Friday’s game at Joe Louis against the Anaheim Ducks.
Of course, Cleary’s status could be partly due to another injury, as he was dealing with pre-existing knee pain from a baker’s cyst.
“Cleary’s gonna get an injection [on Thursday] or whatever and will be out a few days anyway,” Babcock told NHL.com following the game. “He’s in pain. He doesn’t seem to be able to play with it. I don’t think it’s anything serious, but it gives [rookie Jan Mursak] a chance to get in the lineup.”
The loss could be big for a Detroit team on the verge of history. The win over Edmonton was the Wings’ 18th straight at the Joe, just two back of the NHL record (2o games) set by the Boston Bruins during the 1929-30 season and matched by Philadelphia in 1975-76.
Cleary had been playing well lately after a slow start to the year, scoring five points in his last five games.
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2012 Stanley Cup finals at a glance: Los Angeles-New Jersey preview
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A breakdown of Kings vs. Devils.
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Also: air horns.
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If you’re there and rooting against the Kings, you’re one serious contrarian.
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Reports: Ducks might file tampering charge regarding Justin Schultz
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Another rumor points to Schultz becoming a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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That Penguins-Flyers series made things kind of screwy.
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Reasons to root for the Kings, Devils in 2012 Stanley Cup finals
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For those who don’t have a horse in this race.
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Top prospect Grigorenko looks forward to making future teams look bad for skipping him
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He might go second overall in the draft or as late as 20.
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You know you were wondering the same thing, don’t deny it.
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James Reimer didn’t exactly cut it but is he the answer?
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“Perhaps we had all been convinced we would win before the tie actually started. And that might also have been a problem.”
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DeBoer: “He’s here to win. He’s a team-first guy. He’s very unselfish and he’s just a great person.”
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Here are three guys from each team to consider and vote on.
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It dates back to 2004 in junior hockey in Kitchener, Ontario.
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Lou Lamoriello couldn’t be happier to have the Devils back in the finals
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‘We’ve had teams that had success during the regular season, but just couldn’t get through the playoffs for some reason.”
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The Blue Jackets captain is looking at getting dealt at the draft or after July 1.
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PHT Morning Skate: Where the Kings are the oddsmakers’ favorites
May 27, 2012, 9:55 AM EDT
AP
A bit of motivation for New Jersey thanks to the gamblers? That and more in the Morning Skate.
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Should the Devils surrender their 2012 first-rounder to the NHL?
May 26, 2012, 11:11 PM EDT
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They still owe a pick as punishment for their initial attempt to sign Ilya Kovalchuk.
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Parise helped convince Devils to let players sleep at home before playoff home games
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There was a time when they would stay in hotels in the postseason even before contests in New Jersey.
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A rundown of the some of the most noteworthy winners.
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Either one will best New Jersey in 1995, who won after capturing the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed.
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