Red Wings Notebook: One Line Finds Itself

As the Detroit Red Wings seem to be bottoming out, the line of Joe Veleno, Marco Kasper and Jonatan Berggren is discovering they can play well together.

The trio has Detroit’s only goal over the past two games, and the line generated three shots on goal in the 4-0 loss to St. Louis. Even with the Monday shutout, Veleno has three goals in four games. The line was not on the ice for any goals-against.

“We talk about getting out-competed a little in Montreal, those guys did not,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “Joe Veleno, Marco Kasper, Berggren, that was an excellent line. It was an excellent line with our underlying numbers, it was an excellent line with them scoring. They worked. I think Joe has done that the last couple games and I think he’s been rewarded for it with some offense.”

Short Date

William Wallinder’s first call-up to the Detroit Red Wings was more like a trip to a fast food drive-through. With Simon Edvinsson and Ben Chiarot both out, Wallinder was called up Monday afternoon.

Coach Derek Lalonde didn’t need to use Wallinder because William Lagesson was already up. After the game, the Red Wings sent both Wallinder and Lagesson back to Grand Rapids.

Despite the outcome, Detroit’s defensive play was solid against the Blues.

“I thought our D gave us a really good game tonight, considering where it’s at,” Lalonde said. “Obviously any team loses two top left shot D, it’s going to look like that. But I thought our D, our young guys are guys that aren’t even NHL everyday guys, but everyone elevated, they did their job. We held that team to 20 (21) shots. The chances will grade out fine as far as volume. I think our D did a really good job with the circumstances and with that said, we’ll welcome hopefully a couple of those guys back after the break.”

The Red Wings do expect Edvinsson to be ready to play Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Ice Chips

Erik Gustafsson’s 23 minutes of playing time against St. Louis were the most minutes he has played this season. … Team USA, with Detroit prospects Trey Augustine and Max Plante, will play Germany Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at the World Junior Championships (NHL Network)