Wings Prepare for Exhibition Opener

The Detroit Red Wings will open their preseason exhibition schedule Friday night as the Washington Capitals come to Joe Louis Arena. The game will be Detroit’s first since the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim eliminated them from the first round of last season’s playoffs.

The Capitals were scheduled to open their exhibition season Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins but that game was postponed as Hurricane Isabel wreaked havoc along the mid-Atlantic coast, including the Washington area.

The Red Wings were in action on Thursday in their annual Red and White Game at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. The Red team defeated the White team, 2-1, on goals scored by Grand Rapids Griffins Hugo Boisvert and Nathan Robinson. Red Wings prospect Jiri Hudler scored the White team’s lone goal.

Domink Hasek, returning to the Red Wings after a one-year retirement, will not play against the Capitals. Red Wings head coach Dave Lewis said he wanted Hasek to have time to reacclimate himself to Joe Louis Arena and get in a full practice session. Hasek will play Saturday when Detroit hosts the New York Rangers.

Detroit captain Steve Yzerman may also miss time after leaving the Red and White Game early with soreness in his surgically repaired right knee. He was not scheduled to play against Washington but may not be available against the Rangers.

New Red Wings Derian Hatcher and Ray Whitney may make their first appearances wearing the Winged Wheel against the Captials.

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Brett Hull will wear #80 throughout the exhibition season in honor of the late Herb Brooks, who coached the 1980 US Olympic hockey team to a gold medal. Brooks died in a car accident in August.