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Marc Staal Joins Tyler Bertuzzi on the Detroit Red Wings’ COVID-19 Protocol list

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Marc Staal, Detroit Red Wings
Marc Staal is the latest Detroit Red Wings player to test positive for Covid-19. It is still to be determined how long he will be out.

The Detroit Red Wings placed defenseman Marc Staal on the team’s COVID-19 list. Tyler Bertuzzi is already on the list. Defenseman Danny DeKeyser has just come off the COVID-19 list.

Coach Jeff Blashill said it is “yet to be determined” how long Marc Staal will be out. The Red Wings take a five-game winning streak into Tuesday’s home game against Nashville.

“We are all kind of crossing our fingers and hoping that nobody else tests positive,” Blashill said. “But we will see.”

Both the Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders ended up with so many COVID-19 cases recently  that the NHL had to postpone some games.

“I would say we are under enhanced measures, some of which are spelled out in the agreement as we moved into the season.” Blashill said.

Dekeyser’s COVID-19 diagnosis was his second. He didn’t become as ill this time.

“I was lucky,” Dekeyser said. “Asymptomatic the whole time. Tested positive. It was kind of brutal timing because (it was) the day before Thanksgiving, so I didn’t really get to do anything for that, although I did get a little bit of turkey and mashed potatoes. ”

“I was waiting for it to come after the first 48 hours and then never got any symptoms. Was up in my room, staying away from my wife and my kids for the first couple of days and then when I was asymptomatic I was starting to go a little bit crazy up there. Threw a mask on and gloves and stayed about 25 feet from my family members at all time and ate at a table by myself.”

Lindstrom Still Sidelined

With Gus Lindstrom now out with injury, Staal’s absence leaves the Red Wings thin on defense. Troy Stecher is out with a long-term injury. Lindstrom won’t play Tuesday against Nashville. His availability is unknown beyond that game.

The Red Wings recalled defenseman Dan Renouf, 27, from the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins. This is Renouf’s second call-up. He played Nov. 24 for the Detroit, recording a +2 rating, against the St. Louis Blues.

“The last game Danny played for us he played really good,” Blashill said. “The depth throughout your organization becomes critical. It gets tested throughout the season. Certainly with COVID, it gets tested even further.”

The Red Wings continued to play well, even after DeKeyser and Bertuzzi tested positive. “When Bert got it, I was a little bit worried because it was right before a game,” Blashill said. “Does that deflate you a little bit when you get that kind of news right before a game? I thought our guys reacted well to it. So far we have reacted well to it.”