The early prognosis on Detroit Red Wings forward Robby Fabbri sounded encouraging.
Coach Derek Lalonde said Thursday that Fabbri is considered day-to-day, and that there is a chance he could be available this weekend when the Wings play a home-and-home against the Boston Bruins. Fabbri appeared to hurt a knee when he was hit along the boards Wednesday, and his history of three ACL surgeries exacerbated concern.
“That’s a big part of it,” Lalonde said. “I think that’s the ‘proceed cautiously’ part of it.
“Seeing it, his reaction, with his history, the boys were rattled. But then there was some optimism once the dcotor got involved.”
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The Wings were optimistic enough they held off on calling up a forward from the minors, waiting till Friday to see if that will be needed.
“Don’t know if he will be available for Saturday, but it’s encouraging, up against what he has faced the last couple years.
Fabbri limped off in the first period after sustaining a hit from Chicago Blackhawks forward Tyler Johnson.
“It was something that really deflated the bench, when that happened,” Dylan Larkin said. “It was tough to see. We got to come in and kind of see him before the second period, which was good. It made us all feel better.”
Fabbri missed the first three months of the season recovering from a third knee surgery, playing his first game Jan. 4. He has seven goals and nine assists in 27 games.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.
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