Brad Richards set to return to Red Wings lineup Friday against Kings

One of the key signings in the off-season, Brad Richards, is ready to make his return to the ice for the Detroit Red Wings.

As the Detroit Red Wings prepare to face the Los Angeles Kings at Joe Louis Arena, they will do so with a second forward unit of Pavel Datsyuk between Richards and Pulkkinen, an interesting combination of two elite set-up men (Datsyuk, Richards) and one emerging finisher (Pulkkinen).

Tatar also scored for the Red Wings, while Abdelkader and Zetterberg each had two assists. It was Greens first goal with the Red Wings.

He pinched in perfectly from the point to convert a rebound, breaking a 1-1 tie at 3:45 of the second period.

“I’ve been kind of concentrating on trying to shoot the puck more and, you know, at least get something created. So, it felt good today”.

Coach Jeff Blashill liked what he saw, but said it is no surprise and that he expects a lot more offense from Green as the season goes on. “I think both goalies have been really good”, Blashill said. “So he knows when there’s a lane to jump, he jumps. When you score goals, that’s what means a lot”. Weve got to do a better job of winning more games.”.

Friday marked the second consecutive game in which the Kings penalty kill has given up a goal.

His right leg appeared to buckle, and he cried out in pain and hit the ice. But was taking treatment afterwards.

When healthy enough to play, Franzen was a key scorer for the Red Wings. “If I play with Pav, that will make things easier.

The Kings, rocked in Detroit since 2011, tried to shake things up a little bit Friday and started backup goalie Jhonas Enroth, who had been stellar this season. “I just be in the right spot at the right time”.

“I thought we were certainly harder in front of their net”, Blashill said. I think we were there tonight. Instead, it took over 14 minutes before Tatar knocked Abdelkaders pass into a wide-open net for a power-play goal, his sixth of the season.

“It looked bad, ” Tomas Tatar said. “It was good teamwork”. “So I think that will help those two, having a guy with that type of energy.

Mike Green charged in and put away a loose puck from the slot. Jonathan Quick gets the call between the pipes here as he will go up against Petr Mrazek who earned a shut out his last time between the pipes. Mrazek, starting for the second game in a row, had to be sharp all night as the Kings, a big team that’s aggressive on the forecheck applied pressure throughout the game.

“Maybe a few of that was them”, he said.

17 – Points by Henrik Zetterberg, who leads the team.

Jeff Carter scored twice and the Kings dropped to 5-2 on the road.

“I think the other part of it is youve got to keep getting better every day, ” Blashill added.