Notes: Frk happy to celebrate Bertuzzi's first NHL goal

DETROIT -- When it finally happened and the puck was in the net, the look on his face was pure joy.
Tyler Bertuzzi got his first career NHL goal in the third period of the Red Wings' 4-0 shutout of the Chicago Blackhawks and the look on his face was matched by the look on the face of Martin Frk.

You would have thought it was Frk who had scored his first goal.
"Yeah, you know, it's because we used to play together so much in Grand Rapids, so we're really happy," Frk said after Monday's practice at the BELFOR Training Center. "I remember when I scored the game-winning goal in Grand Rapids, I see him smiling more than me now. I knew it was his first goal, so I was really pumped for him. Finally he got the first goal, so hopefully he scores many more."
It took 17 career games between last season and this season but Bertuzzi got the marker on a typical play for him, going to the net and jamming home a rebound.
"I knew it wasn't going to be bar down," Bertuzzi said after the game. "I knew it's going to be gritty."
After the game, Bertuzzi said it was Frk who had encouraged him.
"He tells me every day that I'm going to score and I'm just so happy he assisted on it," Bertuzzi said. "He was happy for me and we're real close buddies. We played together last year and I'm happy he's the one who helped me."
Frk said now that Bertuzzi has his first, his second likely won't be far behind.
"Yeah, you know, they have to come," Frk said. "If it didn't come last game, then probably the next game coming up. As soon as you get the first one, then it's a little bit easier."
Nick Jensen had the initial shot and Frk got the second assist on the play.
"Definitely. It's special," Frk said. "I've known him for a long time now. I was really happy. As soon as it went in, I was just jumping high and start smiling."
Bertuzzi had been playing on the top line with captain Henrik Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist and Frk had been on the fourth line with Andreas Athanasiou and Anthony Mantha until injuries to Justin Abdelkader and Darren Helm forced some changes.
So it was a happy coincidence that Frk assisted.
"We played together the last few years and we've had a lot of points together," Bertuzzi said. "We've contributed on goals but this was special for and for him to obviously to assist on in. We played together for a long time."
Bertuzzi recalled being equally as happy for Frk at the end of last season in Grand Rapids.
"That kind of brings back memories of last year when Marty scored the game winner in the Calder Cup finals," Bertuzzi said. "Just our celebration. I was excited. It was a relief finally to get that first one. Just moving on from here."
Wings coach Jeff Blashill said that kind of relationship between players is a special thing.
"The one good thing when guys come up through the system together, there's certainly bonds that are deep," Blashill said. "A number of our guys have come up through this system together and that allows for that deep, deep friendship so I think that's real important."
Frk was the Wings' second-round pick, 49th overall, in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and Bertuzzi was the Wings' second-round pick, 58th overall, in the 2013 draft.
Time spent together at development camps, training camps and with the Grand Rapids Griffins has solidified their friendship.
"Our girlfriends are really good friends, too," Frk said. "We went to Mexico together, so we get closer and closer. Especially when you play with someone for a year and a half, you get really close to each other."
The trip to Mexico took place during last week's bye.
"He was the first guy I texted when I got called up," Bertuzzi said. "What's the schedule like tomorrow and stuff like that. He's good to have around. He's my stallie (lockers next to each other), so a lot of laughs over here."
Frk said Bertuzzi is kind of like a brother to him.
"He's really funny," Frk said. "He just makes his own words and he just uses them all the time. He just makes fun of me. I like it. I love it."
BERTUZZI HEARS FROM EVERYONE: As you might expect, Bertuzzi's phone has been blowing up since he scored.
Uncle Todd Bertuzzi was one of the ones who contacted him.
"Yeah, he texted me. He said congrats," Bertuzzi said. "For sure, he said I was playing well and just keep playing that way."
Todd Bertuzzi was far from the only one who congratulated him.
"A lot of friends, family and people I went to high school with and elementary school. Facebook messages and stuff like that," Bertuzzi said. "It was nice. I was happy to hear from everyone."
There were even people reaching out that Bertuzzi hadn't spoken to in several years.
"There was a lot of people from elementary school," Bertuzzi said. "Stuff from people I hadn't talked to in tons and tons of years. I caught up with them a little bit and I was asking how they were doing."
Now that Bertuzzi has been told he is here to stay, fans are beginning to embrace his hard forechecking, gritty style of play.
"This is a blue collar town and I think people have tons of respect for workers and guys that play hard and guys that fight in terms of their approach, not necessarily literally but fight in terms of their approach," Blashill said. "I said the other day he's like a junkyard dog, that's how he plays and I think there's a lot of players that have come before that have had a special place in fans' hearts because of that and certainly he's a guy that could become that type of player."
TURGEON'S DEBUT: It was a whirlwind for Dominic Turgeon, who was called up for Sunday's game in Chicago when Abdelkader and Helm were hurt against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.
"I was actually taking my pre-game nap for that game in GR (Saturday night)," Turgeon said Sunday. "I had just got the call and went straight to the airport. I got in around eight o'clock (Saturday) night, so it was quick."
Turgeon's father, Pierre, who had a 20-year NHL career, is an offensive coach for the Los Angeles Kings, who had a home game Saturday night against the Anaheim Ducks.
But the Kings let Pierre Turgeon leave early to catch a flight to Chicago so he and his wife, Elisabeth, could witness their son's NHL debut together.
"That meant a lot to me that they let him come here," Dominic Turgeon said. "It was exciting for me and my family that he could be here to watch it."
Turgeon had a scary moment in the first period when he blocked the shot of Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy and had to get checked out, but he was able to return to the game.
"At the time I didn't really know," Dominic Turgeon said. "My arm was kind of numb, so we just checked it out. Everything was perfect and I was able to go back out there."
Turgeon played just over nine minutes and had one shot and three blocks in the game while centering the fourth line.
David Booth and Luke Witkowski were on his wings.
Blashill said he did not have any new updates on Abdelkader and Helm as both were being examined by doctors in Detroit.
He did say neither would play Tuesday against Dallas, so Turgeon would get at least one more game.
"When I talked to Ken (Holland, general manager) and to (assistant general manager) Ryan Martin, the No. 1 criteria for the callup in this particular case was their best penalty killer that could still play a fourth-line center role," Blashill said. "We needed a fourth-line center, we needed a penalty killer. I don't think there's any question that he's, from what I'm told, been their best penalty killer."
Turgeon played 1:43 on the penalty kill, which Blashill says is a similar system to what they have in Grand Rapids.
"Ben Simon runs their PK. He sits in all our meetings at the beginning of the year," Blashill said. "There's probably little nuances that are different but real similar approaches. The other thing with him is he's really, really smart. So real smart hockey players can figure things out real fast."
GLENDENING SKATES: Luke Glendening, the Wings' third injured penalty killer, has been skating with strength and conditioning coach Mike Kadar.
Glendening suffered a hand injury Dec. 20 in Philadelphia and was expected to miss at least four weeks.
"I wouldn't expect him until after the All-Star break," Blashill said. "I don't know that he'll be ready after the All-Star break but he won't be ready before the All-Star break."
The All-Star break starts Jan. 26 and the Wings return to action Jan. 31 at home against the San Jose Sharks.