One of the Detroit Red Wings‘ top-six forwards has been lost to injury.
Rasmussen was hit in the leg by a shot during the first period of Saturday’s contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Rasmussen limped off the ice and went straight to the locker room. Zach Bogosian has a heavy shot, and Rasmussen looked in pain. Coach Derek Lalonde did not have an update on Rasmussen immediately following the 3-0 loss at Little Caesars Arena. “Took a puck in the knee cap,” Lalonde said. “He’s with the doctors right now.”
Captain Dylan Larkin said it was “very difficult” to see Rasmussen get hurt. “What he’s brought to our team, not just on the score sheet but physicality, penalty kill, doing all the little things it takes to win. It hurts. I feel for him, we all do.
“Just his commitment to the team, his leadership, he’s really found a great role and he’s expanded his game in that role. It just sucks for him right now.”
Rasmussen already had posted a career-high 29 points, with 10 goals, in 55 games, was on track to have a career high in that category, too. He’s been a mainstay on the second line, developing chemistry especially with Andrew Copp.
The Wings have Jakub Vrana ready to return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch Saturday, and Lucas Raymond is expected to be available this coming week. He has missed eight games since suffering a lower-body injury Feb. 10.
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Filip Zadina was hit in the leg by a puck in early November and ended up needing surgery. He missed three months before being cleared to return.