Notes: Green out, Lashoff uncertain, Jensen possible

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - The last thing a team that has had trouble scoring needed was to lose its second leading scorer.
Defenseman Mike Green left Saturday night's game against Anaheim near the end of the game after taking a hit from Ryan Kesler.

Wings coach Jeff Blashill said Green was definitely out tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes.
"We'll know more here in the next couple of days," Blashill said. "I don't see him playing today or tomorrow and probably not on this trip."
Green has seven goals, tied with Tomas Tatar and Frans Nielsen for second on the team to Dylan Larkin's 10, and 11 assists.
"It's tough, tough loss," Nielsen said. "He does everything. He kills penalties, he quarterbacks the power play, plays tough minutes against the best guys on the other team. Tough loss but a bit of an opportunity for someone else and hopefully someone is going to step up and take his ice time."
To make matters worse, defenseman Brian Lashoff took a puck to the mouth during the morning skate and had to be helped off the ice.
"Not what we needed right now, with Green out too," Nielsen said. "Hopefully it's not too bad and he's OK."
Blashill wasn't sure if Lashoff would be available.
"I don't have that answer," Blashill said. "Obviously it just happened there. It was a puck to the mouth so it was fairly severe. But we called Nick Jensen up for a reason so if Lash can't go Jensen will be in."
JENSEN WITH TEAM: If Jensen gets in the lineup, he will be making his NHL debut.
"Looking forward to it a lot," Jensen said. "It's going to be exciting. Obviously being my debut. I'm sure like any other player in their first game, it's exciting, a little anxious, a little nervous, all of the above. Should be fun, though."
Jensen, 26, has one goal, five assists and is a team-best plus-8 in 27 games with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins this season.
The Wings recalled Jensen last January but he did not end up playing.
With Green's injury and Lashoff's status in the air, that could change.
"There's definitely some butterflies," Jensen said. "I've never played at this level. I've played preseason but it's not midseason. I guess a little nerves but it kind of fuels you a little bit, gets you up and ready for the game, gives you energy for the game."
WMU CONNECTION: The Western Michigan University Broncos will be well-represented in tonight's game.
Blashill coached defenseman Danny DeKeyser in Kalamazoo and also Hurricanes defenseman Matt Tennyson, who was not with the Hurricanes the last time the Wings played them.
"Matt is somebody I have a great relationship with. He's a great guy," Blashill said. "He, I thought was a big part of transforming Western Michigan's program along with Danny DeKeyser. I think those two guys on D had a big, big say in it. Other guys did as well in terms of leadership but certainly those two guys really stepped to the forefront - and Luke Witkowski as a few real good defensemen who changed the program. Matty's got a great shot, I mean a really good shot. He's a big strong body and he knows how to play the game. It doesn't surprise me that he's had success here."
Hurricanes coach Bill Peters has been pleased with Tennyson, especially since the team's winning percentage is 60 percent with him.
"The timing of it's a little bit important," Peters said. "He came up, (Derek) Ryan came up, (Brock) McGinn came up. They helped us. We're lefty-righty in all three pairs, something that I like. Tennyson allows us to do that with (Noah) Hanifin and so does (Ryan) Murphy but Tennyson's come in and taken that spot and been able to hold onto it and continued to get better as he goes, too. He's been good."
Tennyson has good memories from his time at Western.
"I had Blash for a year at Western," Tennyson said. "He helped turn around that program from what it was. Obviously learned a lot from him and (Pat) Ferschweiler as well. I played with Danny for two years, lived with him one of the summers. Obviously the D were pretty close on that team so I know him pretty well. Obviously good player."
Although Tennyson was not paired with DeKeyser, he appreciated his game.
"I think he's a two-way guy," Tennyson said. "Obviously very defensive, he's got a long stick and can skate and he can shoot it. So I think he can provide value in all zones, obviously moves the puck very well and has been playing well for them for a while now."
Since they lived together one summer, Tennyson got to know DeKeyser pretty well.
"I wouldn't say quiet, I would just say he's laid-back," Tennyson said. "He's not the center of attention necessarily but he's definitely a good guy and someone I consider a friend for sure."