Detroit Red Wings off to bad playoff start: lose game to Nashville Predators, Darren Helm to injury
The first game of the playoff series turned out to be the most disappointing point of the Detroit Red Wings’ 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) season run as they not only lost the game but also a notable player to an arm injury.
Wings lost the game with two to three (2-3) goals margin to the Nashville Predators on Wednesday, April 11, 2012, which marked the opening of first round of the playoff series.
The team had another setback when centre, Darren Helm, suffered a rather serious injury into the first period of the game and did not return for the remaining part.
Later, the management confirmed that the player had suffered a cut on his arm and was rushed to the dressing room in severe pain. He required a surgery and was taken to a local hospital for the procedure.
Red Wings’ coach, Mike Babcock, said of the injury:
"He had his forearm cut, that's why he's at the hospital - we don't know to what extent, or how severe, if any tendons or anything like that are cut. I don't know that. But it was pretty severe. I mean, as soon as it happened, he skated straight to the
bench and we were on a penalty kill. He'd never do that. And then they took him from the game right away.”
He admitted:
"It's a tough blow, but that's just the way things go."
The management confirmed that the centre suffered the cut from Predators winger, Alexander Radulov. It was not clear if he faces any penalty over the incident.
It is rather unfortunate for Helm that he could not last much longer on the ice after returning from the previous injury, the medial collateral ligament in his left knee, which had forced him out of last 10 games of the regular season.
His place was confirmed in the team following his successful practice session and before that an extensive skate on the ice on past Wednesday morning.
Following the Wednesday’s morning training, the player, in his brief talk to media, spoke about his postseason ambitions and targets.
He said:
"I hope I can be out there and make a difference."
As the coach has also admitted, Helm’s departure after the brief stay on the ice is even more serious setback to the Detroit Red Wings’ postseason run as he remains to be a key member of the squad.
The managers are said to be aware of the situation and especially the fact that the current season run may be well over for Helm. They are not taking any chances to speculate the possible timeline for his return from the latest injury scare.
So, all in all it was not the start that Wings were hoping for their postseason campaign. They wish now that they are not met with any serious disaster as this one in the remaining games of the round.
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