According to Ansar Khan of Mlive.com, Red Wings defenseman Mike Commodore has been cleared to play after suffering an MCL sprain during a preseason game on September 28th.
The problem for Commodore now is trying to take someone’s spot in the lineup.
“Commodore’s cleared healthy now, he’s got to win a spot in the lineup,” coach Mike Babcock said after today’s morning skate. “So the first step’s getting healthy, and then you got to take someone’s job.”
Khan believes that Commodore’s best shot at cracking the lineup is filling in for Jakub Kindl who by all accounts has gotten off to a pretty good start this season.
“I just want to have good practices and when the opportunity arises be ready to go,” Commodore said. “Hopefully we keep playing well, and if it takes a while for that opportunity, then so be it. That’s fine. I just need to focus on myself and be ready when the time comes around.”
Nonetheless it’s a pretty safe bet we’ll see Commodore at some point this season.
In goaltending news, Jimmy Howard will be back in net tonight for the Wings when they take on the Sharks. Head coach Mike Babcock is thinking about starting him Saturday night as well against Minnesota but he’s still not sure you.
Other than all of that here is tonight’s anticipated lineup against the Sharks.
Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Cleary
Filppula-Franzen-Hudler
Bertuzzi-Helm-Eaves
Miller-Abdelkader-Holmstrom
Emmerton-Brunnstrom (healthy scratches)
Lidstrom-White
Kronwall-Stuart
Ericsson-Kindl
Commodore (healthy scratch)
Howard (starting)
Conklin
Here is San Jose’s anticipated lineup:
Patrick Marleau-Joe Thornton-Joe Pavelski
Ryane Clowe-Logan Couture-Martin Havlat
Jamie McGinn-Michal Handzus-Benn Ferriero
Brad Winchester-Andrew Desjardins-Andrew Murray
Douglas Murray-Dan Boyle
Marc-Edouard Vlasic-Brent Burns
Jason Demers-Justin Braun
Antti Niemi (starting)
Thomas Greiss
Ref: Mlive.com,