Detroit Red Wings Quick Hits: Ville Leino Scratched, Valtteri Filppula Uncasted

Here are some quick updates as Detroit prepares for Wednesday's tilt against the St. Louis Blues at Joe Louis Arena...

Leino sits

For the second time in as many games, forward Ville Leino will be a healthy scratch for the Red Wings.

Despite showing a great deal of promise in limited action last season, Leino has been a rather large disappointment this season. 

Leino has just five points (3G, 2A) in 27 games played with a minus-8 rating.

Leino has been given more than enough playing time to prove himself effective, often being paired with star center Henrik Zetterberg, to no avail.

Leino has not recorded a point in well over a month and will be a healthy scratch for the third time this season.

While losing linemates Jason Williams and Valtteri Filppula, one of the team's most effective lines early on, may be a factor affecting his play, his overall lack of effort and inability to win physical battles has made him expendable.

Filppula progressing

Filppula (wrist), who has been out since late October, had his cast removed on Tuesday, providing hope that his return may come as soon as late December/early January.

Filppula stated that while he is not yet ready to stick handle or shoot, he will continue skating without the cast and feels good about his progress to this point.

Howard to start again

Rookie goaltender Jimmy Howard will get the nod in goal again on Wednesday following perhaps his best performance of the season (and his career) against his hometown New York Rangers.

Howard stopped 28 shots, including a penalty shot, in Sunday's win and was largely responsible for the Wings stopping all three of New York's power-play opportunities.

While Chris Osgood is eager to get back in net (he is currently five wins away from 400), head coach Mike Babcock considers Howard to be the better of the two goalies to this point and will continue to go to Howard, provided his play remains solid.

Have you noticed?

Detroit's third line of Kris Draper, Darren Helm, and Patrick Eaves continues to be the team's most effective.

The trio have combined for 11 points and a plus-12 rating over the past five games.

Along with creating havoc in the offensive zone with their speed and solid puck-cycling game, the three are also regulars on the penalty kill that has not allowed a goal in the last 11 opportunities.