The Detroit Red Wings pulled out a heart-stopping 3-2 win on Monday afternoon against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.
Mason Appleton scored with less than a minute to go in the third period to lift the Red Wings past the Leafs. But Appleton would have never scored that goal if star winger Lucas Raymond had not left the game in the second period.
Raymond took a hit along the boards from Maple Leafs blueliner Chris Tanev during the second period. Raymond was visibly in pain. He did not return to the game.
Here’s a look at the hit:
As of now, the word is that Raymond sustained an upper-body injury. There is no further word on the nature of the year or how long he may be out.
Red Wings fans hope it’s nothing serious and Raymond left out of precaution. If Raymond did sustain a serious injury, losing him could be a significant blow to the Red Wings’ offense.
Last season, the 23-year-old scored 27 goals and added 53 assists for 80 points in all 82 games. He’s played the full 82-game slate in three of his four full seasons with the Red Wings. He played 74 in 2022-23.
Raymond’s durability has been a testament to his tenacity and strength. The Red Wings are off to a strong start, sweeping a back-to-back set with the Maple Leafs to improve to 2-1-0 on the season.
Appleton Stepped Up for Red Wings in Raymond’s Absence
Mason Appleton, who joined the Red Wings this past offseason after playing for the Winnipeg Jets, stepped up in Raymond’s absence.
Coach Todd McLellan got Appleton on the top unit with captain Dylan Larkin and rookie Emmitt Finnie. Appleton rewarded McLellan’s faith by scoring the game-winner.
Moving forward, it remains to be seen if McLellan will stick with Appleton on that top line. Another candidate could be veteran James van Riemsdyk. Van Riemsdyk was earmarked for the top line when he signed a one-year deal with Detroit this summer.
Raymond’s untimely injury opens the door for van Riemsdyk to step into that role. The emergence of Emmitt Finnie provides stability on that top line. But given Appleton’s performance on Monday afternoon, McLellan may just stick with Appleton.
It could be one of those cases where “you don’t fix something that’s not broke.”
Detroit to Face Tough Test without Raymond
The Detroit Red Wings’ next three games feature the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Edmonton Oilers. That’s a tough three-game stretch that will test the Red Wings’ resolve.
That test could get even tougher without Raymond in the lineup. At this point, there’s no telling if Raymond will miss any time. But if he does, the Red Wings will need to rally and play up to their strengths against three legit Stanley Cup contenders.
The Wings will hit the ice next Wednesday at home, as they host the Stanley Cup champ Florida Panthers at the Little Caesars Arena.
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