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    • Christian Fischer and Joe Veleno fight “tremendously” for the Detroit Red Wings
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    Christian Fischer and Joe Veleno fight “tremendously” for the Detroit Red Wings

    Pabio Posted on

    Detroit — Everyone around the Red Wings has been excited this season by the response of players sticking up for each other and showing a physical side when needed.

    This ingredient may have been a little lacking in previous years, but it has definitely resurfaced with this list.

    Christian Fischer (against New Jersey’s Brenden Dillon) and Joe Veleno (against Edmonton’s Corey Perry) both had spirited fights over the past week.

    The technical staff was happy. The teammates were excited. But wait, there were a few people unhappy with the fights between Fischer and Veleno.

    Their mothers.

    Fischer’s mother texted him Thursday while he was in the penalty box — yes, during the game — serving time for fighting Dillon, one of the NHL’s toughest patrons.

    “She texted me because when I went to the dressing room and was sitting down, I had blood on my face,” Fischer said. “My mom was texting me asking if I was okay.”

    Fischer also had a duty for mom.

    “She wanted photo proof and wanted me to send her a selfie,” Fischer said. “She thought I had been cut. I had to show her (proof that it hadn’t been cut) because there was blood on my face. It was coming from my nose. She thought that I had been cut, but I didn’t cut myself.”

    This fight was the 10th of Fischer’s career and the routine is exactly the same every time.

    “She doesn’t like it,” Fischer said. “She texted me after each one, and she’s not a fan of that.”

    Veleno’s experience after Sunday’s fight against Perry was similar, with Mom not being happy about the situation.

    “She doesn’t really like me to fight,” Veleno said, a little sheepishly. “She had a smile on her face.”

    Veleno earned a lot of credit from family and friends for taking on Perry, 39, a potential Hall of Famer who is as good an agitator as anyone in the NHL.

    “A lot of people were surprised that I could hold my own against a bigger, more experienced opponent,” Veleno said. “A lot of them were impressed. They were saying good work and what a tilt, and they were a little surprised and congratulated me a little.”

    Veleno hit Edmonton forward Derek Ryan early in the game — Veleno admitted it may have been a bit high, although the referees absolved Veleno — and Perry challenged Veleno shortly after.

    “We pushed the pace on them and it was probably a good opportunity for him (Perry) to get some energy back into his team,” said Veleno, who has only one other fight in his career. “I didn’t want to do it because things were going so well for us, but he was shouting at me during a TV break and I couldn’t really back down at that point in front of the boys. So we continued through the quarter. next job, we saw each other on the ice, dropped them and went for it.

    “I knew he was a lot older (Veleno 24, Perry 39) than me, but that didn’t stop me from going. (But) it’s Corey Perry, he could be a member of the Hall fame one day, he proved a lot in this league It was a good match and we traded blows and went at it.

    Normally one wouldn’t expect Veleno and Fischer to throw punches. But it’s exactly that type of will that likely sparked the Wings, who are 3-1-1 in their last five games.

    “It’s huge,” coach Derek Lalonde said of Fischer and Veleno defending. “We are currently working on five-game segments and a 3-1-1, and our engagement has been at a high level and that draws everyone into the fight.

    “That kind of game and tough intensity.”

    Ice chips

    Tyler Motte returned to practice for the first time Tuesday after missing five games with an undisclosed injury.

    “First practice today, so I don’t think he’ll be available Wednesday,” Lalonde said. “But (we’re) in a unique part of our schedule, we’re going to have two more quality practices, and we’ll have a better idea of ​​his availability for Saturday (against Buffalo).”

    … Motte’s return to the lineup will result in a roster change, but that’s starting to look doubtful Marc Kasper would return to Grand Rapids. Kasper was recalled when Motte was injured.

    “Marco gave us some good hockey and some spark,” Lalonde said. “We have a 3-1-1 streak with that type of lineup.”

    Jets at Red Wings

    Faceoff: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit

    Television/radio: FSN/97.1

    Outlook: The Wings welcome Winnipeg, championship leader (8-1-0), who lost for the first time Monday against Toronto (6-4). … The Jets have been incredible on the power play, ranking first (44.4%), while the Wings are 31st on the penalty kill at 66.7%. …L.W. Kyle Connor (Shelby Township) rolls with eight goals and 14 points and G Connor Hellebuyck (Commerce Township) is 6-1-0 with a .925 SVS.

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