Talbot Medical Evaluation Will Decide Cossa’s Status

The Detroit Red Wings believe, or at least hope, goalie Cam Talbot could be healthy enough to play on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators.

“I think that there’s a chance he can be (available for Thursday),” coach Todd McLellan said after Detroit’s 5-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. “We got to get him home and like everybody else, evaluate when we get there.”

Sebastian Cossa was called up Tuesday under emergency conditions, and Talbot’s examination will determine how long his stay will be. If Talbot can’t play Thursday, McLellan will have to decide whether to give Cossa, 22, his first NHL start in a critically important game.

The Red Wings often fly home right home after a road game, but were scheduled to spend last night in Colorado and head home this morning. The theory was they could have their normal rest under that plan.

The Griffins brought up goalie Jan Bednar from the Toledo Walleye in case Cossa is staying in Detroit.

With 11 games to go, and sitting three points out of a playoff spot, the Red Wings are trying to give themselves the best chance of succeeding in their mission to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in in nine seasons.

“I’ll keep it small,” McLellan said Tuesday night in the post-game press conference, broadcast by FanDuel Sports Network. “Focus on what’s in front of us. You know, there were other teams in our  ballpark, I believe, that lost tonight. It’s unfortunate we couldn’t gain on them. But the gulf, or the gap, between being in and out isn’t huge right now. And we just took a big run through some of the top teams in the league. It was a tough run. Bbut we’ve got some games ahead of us that we need to find some points.”

Soderblom Hurt

Detroit plays Ottawa Thursday and Boston on Saturday at Little Caesars Arena.

Going home allows the Red Wings to get a clear picture of injuries to goalies Petr Mrazek (hurt against Utah) and Talbot. Mrazek stayed with the team after his injury.

“He’ll fly back with us and get a better evaluation,” McLellan said. “But I can probably tell you, he won’t be available on Thursday.”

Elmer Soderblom also didn’t play against Colorado and that’s now a concern.

Said McLellan: “He reaggravated his injury from before last shift of the game. He won’t be available Thursday as well.”