Injury Update: Kane Out vs. NYI, "Day-to-Day"

Forwards Patrick Kane and Michael Rasmussen sat out Sunday afternoon's Red Wings practice before the team traveled to New York for tonight's game against the Islanders. Though a maintenance day typically connotes that the player could play if needed, coach Derek Lalonde described himself as hopeful rather than certain the two would be available for tonight's game. After this morning's pre-game skate at UBS Arena, coach Derek Lalonde provided clarity on their status:

"Patrick Kane and Ras took the maintenance days yesterday, and Patty'll need another day, probably a day-to-day situation, so he'll be out, so Joe Veleno'll be back in," Lalonde told reporters this morning. We wanted to get Joe back in anyways. This obviously makes it reasonable."

So, Kane is out, and while not explicitly stated here, it sounds as though Rasmussen will be available. Meanwhile, Joe Veleno—a healthy scratch the last two times out for Detroit—will fold back into the lineup. As Lalonde said here, that had been the stated plan going back to Sunday, even when both Kane and Rasmussen were potentially available.

Without either Kane or Rasmussen available at yesterday's practice, the Red Wings lined up as follows:

More than likely, Rasmussen will hop into one of the two spots occupied by Christian Fischer in that lineup, though it's also possible Detroit would reunite the trio of Andrew Copp between Rasmussen and Fischer, moving Tyler Motte to a line with J.T. Compher and Veleno.

After getting a first hand look at just how good the Isles number one goaltender Ilya Sorokin can be in last week's game in Detroit, the Red Wings will be looking to put pucks past Sorokin's back-up Semyon Varlamov in tonight's game, while Alex Lyon will tend the visiting net.

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