Notebook: Red Wings Lose Forward to Injury in Loss to Caps

DETROIT — The Red Wings suffered an injury on top of an insult when Andrew Copp suffered a broken cheekbone on a high-sticking penalty that wasn’t called by either referee.

Capitals forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel was battling with Detroit defenseman Olli Maatta when his stick came up and struck Copp in the face. Copp went down in a heap. Referees conferred but no penalty call was made. Replays showed it was a clear high-stick.

“He’s going to get an x-ray to get it confirmed,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said.

Lalonde said it was his understanding that if there is an injury, then officials can look at a replay.

“Again it’s hindsight now because he’s got a broken cheekbone, but that stings even more,” Lalonde said. “They said they didn’t see it. What can you do? They never took a look at it. They just said they didn’t see it. Again, there’s no blood.”

Copp is one of the team’s key match-up forwards. The Red Wings have another important game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.

“Obviously a blatant high stick,” Lalonde said. “If it hits him in the visor, you can probably move on from it. But the fact he broke his cheekbone, that one stings a little bit. I feel for Copper. Obviously I don’t know what the situation is going forward, but that would be a big loss for us.”

Presuming Copp is out, Lalonde said he would probably ask Joe Veleno to do “a little more.”

“He’s more than capable.” Lalonde said.

No penalty call on this high stick on Copp. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/oKHQkFFI3D

— Ryan Hana (@RyanHanaWWP) April 10, 2024

Ice Chips

Moritz Seider, suffering from the flu, played only 17:54. Had he been healthy he would have played 25-plus minutes… Patrick Kane scored his 20th goal of the season. He has 16 seasons of scoring 20 or more,  tying Mike Modano for the most 20-goal seasons by a U.S.-born skater in NHL history… Alex DeBrincat had three shots on goal, but his goal drought continues. He has one goal in the past 19 games.