Notes: Nielsen out; Athanasiou doubtful versus Columbus

DETROIT- As upbeat as the Red Wings were after Sunday's victory against the Dallas Stars, they learned the injury bug, which has plagued the blueline, has now reared its ugly head toward the forward corps.
Center Frans Nielsen is out for Tuesday's game at Columbus and it is likely forward Andreas Athanasiou will also not suit up against the Blue Jackets.

"Nielsen won't make the trip. I would suspect he's out tomorrow and Thursday (at home against New Jersey), I don't know past that," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said after Monday's practice at the Belfor Training Center. "Double-A is going to make the trip, he's doubtful is how I'd list him for tomorrow. There's still a chance, we'll evaluate again (Tuesday) morning, but I would list him as doubtful."
Both players were drilled into the boards on Sunday, Athanasiou early in the first period and Nielsen late in the second. They appeared to be shaken up, but each player finished the game.
"We all need to step up. Obviously two key players," Dylan Larkin said. "I don't know a whole lot about how they're doing but it does look like maybe at least one of them won't be there tomorrow. It hurts. We've dealt with that on the back end and guys have stepped up.
"Now a couple of our key forwards are injured so we have to find ways to get guys, in the third, fourth line, more opportunities, which is good for them. It gives them an opportunity, like I said, so they have to step up - we all do - to chip in what they have on offense."
Without Nielsen and Athanasiou, the Wings will be down two centers, a position where they already lack depth.
Rookie Michael Rasmussen, a natural center who has played mostly on the wing this season, will get a shot at center in Columbus.
"He'll (Rasmussen) get some shifts at center for sure," Blashill said. "We've got options, we can go 12 (forwards) and six (defensemen) and play (Luke Witkowski) up front, we can go 11 and seven, playing seven D, so we'll see."
Since the Wings were missing a few forwards, defenseman Joe Hicketts practiced as a forward, but Blashill made it clear Hicketts will not be playing forward for the Wings in the game.
"I'm not going to play Hicketts at forward," he said with a smile.

RASMUSSEN TO HIT 10-GAME MARK ON TUESDAY:It will be a milestone game for Rasmussen against the Blue Jackets and it's not because he'll play some at center, his natural position.
He will be playing in his 10th game as a Red Wing, meaning the 19-year-old will not be sent back to his junior team anytime soon.
The Wings were weighing what to do with Rasmussen. As soon as he hits the 10-game mark, the first year of his three-year entry level contract will burn off, but according to Blashill the decision to keep the 6-foot-6, 221-pound rookie in Detroit wasn't all that tough.
"Not that difficult," Blashill said. "The one thing with anyone who's been in decision-making positions, we think about the unintended consequences, whether it's for our team or whatever. Those who judge decisions don't have to worry about what would happen if you make the opposite decision, but we have to. I don't think there's any decision that's made without really thinking about it.
"Obviously tomorrow is the 10th game, so we told him as of today, you're staying and you're playing through those games. I think the biggest thing we would focus on, from my perspective, we need to win but we also need to make sure we're doing the best thing we can for Michael Rasmussen long-term and our assessment as we stand here today is that the best thing to do is keep him here and keep playing.
"As long as he's progressing and when he plays, he's played 13-14 minutes, it's not like he's playing eight minutes. I personally think he needs to learn how to play at a higher pace. The pace, he can get away with it in junior, he can't get away with it here. He needs to learn the little tricks of the trade to hold onto the puck against bigger, stronger men. He's bigger and stronger than everybody in junior.
"And then off the ice he's got Mike Kadar (strength and conditioning coach) to help him continue to build that body into an elite athlete's body as a young guy, so I think there's tons of benefits to continuing to play and in the meantime, I like him lots as a player and I think he can help us win."
Rasmussen is extremely low-key and very focused, so he was unassuming when asked about remaining in Detroit and playing center.
"Not really," he responded when asked if he felt relief hitting the 10-game mark. "I don't really look into that stuff too much, just try to help the team and keep getting better. They haven't said too much, just keep playing and keep working.
"They're both pretty comfortable for me, I like both positions (wing and center). So I think I'll enjoy it a little bit."

LARKIN: CONSISTENCY TOUGH TO MAINTAIN: Detroit's players were encouraged with their overall play against the Stars, but they realize they must build upon the consistency they showed against Dallas.
"It is," Larkin replied when ask if consistency is the hardest aspect for a team to sustain. "I think you see a lot of the best teams, their depth, different hero every night. Last night you see our goalie stood on his head, Bernie (Jonathan Bernier) stood on his head, guys chipping in.
"Mo (Anthony Mantha) and Bert (Tyler Bertuzzi), scoring first time, not in a while but they were squeezing the stick a little tight. It's just different hero every night and we're going to need that to continue to win, especially with Double-A and Nielsen not doing well.
"Everyone wants to score, everyone wants to win. It's opportunity, it's being patient and you got to work yourself through difficult times. The only way to get out of a slump or a losing streak is to work as hard as you can every day."
Larkin wears the 'A' during Wings home games and he reiterated he doesn't need a letter to be a team leader, but he has stepped it up a bit when something needs to be said.
"I've always been talking before face-offs and I talk a lot on the bench, I talk to my linemates a lot. But I guess, yeah, I am a leader here," he said. "I think everyone in here is a leader at some capacity. I want to be the guy who's a main person to turn this around. I've said that before and I think one reason I feel comfortable with that is the relationship I have with all the guys.
"I feel pretty comfortable with everyone in here and they're all my buddies and we all get along, so I feel I can talk and I feel comfortable enough to do that."