Notes: Glendening expected to play Thursday after blocking shot in OT

DETROIT -- There's a reason that the Toronto Maple Leafs were interested in Luke Glendening before the trade deadline.
The young veteran Red Wings center is one of those players who is willing to take whatever punishment if it means helping his team.

Early in overtime Tuesday night, Glendening went down to block a slap shot by Philadelphia Flyers forward Jakub Voracek as the Flyers were still on the power play.
"To me, it's exemplary of the way our guys have continued to battle extraordinarily hard," Wings coach Jeff Blashill said after the Wings' 5-4 shootout victory. "I don't know how his foot will end up, but it hurt for sure. He was done for the rest of the game. I just think it's totally indicative of the compete that our team has continued to have. Anybody that hasn't been around us every day might not understand that."
Goaltender Jimmy Howard made sure to mention Glendening after the game.
"What a block by Glenny there in overtime," Howard said. "He's not a guy that gets talked about a lot, but he means so much to this team. He means so much to everyone in this dressing room. He does that night in and night out for us. He also got a great goal (Tuesday night)."
That block prevented the Flyers from scoring with the man-advantage for the third time.
"It started with a huge kill, Glenny sacrificing his body again," Dylan Larkin said. "He's done that his whole career and to see that, it means a lot. It means a lot to everyone in this room, for him to sacrifice his body like that, a one-timer with the slow pass, the guy's walking right into it. It doesn't feel good but to see that got us going."
Glendening was not on the ice for practice Wednesday but not surprisingly, Blashill said he expected Glendening to be available for Thursday night's game against the Washington Capitals.
Henrik Zetterberg, Trevor Daley and Mike Green also did not practice but all are expected to play Thursday.
Glendening is not known for his scoring but he did get a shorthanded goal against the Flyers, his ninth of the season and his second shorthanded tally.
Glendening is tied for 10th in the league with three shorthanded points.
Larkin and Frans Nielsen also have two shorthanded goals, so that ties the Wings with the Nashville Predators as the only other team with that many players with multiple shorthanded goals.
Glendening had three blocked shots and won 10-of-13 face-offs against the Flyers. He leads the Wings in face-off percentage at 58.8.
"Luke's a player that ever since he's been up here with the Red Wings he's worked extremely hard," Justin Abdelkader said. "He does all the little things right. He blocks shots, is really good on face-offs. We saw a really nice goal out of him last night, which he can provide, too. He's a great asset to the team, a good person in the locker room to have as a good teammate. He just brings every type of element you want in a hockey player."
SVECHNIKOV GAINING CONFIDENCE: The grin on Evgeny Svechnikov's face was ear to ear after he scored his first career goal in the second period Tuesday night.
He admitted he watched the goal 10-15 times after the game.
It's something that can give a young player confidence.
"I feel comfortable," Svechnikov said. "I think that's the main thing. I was a little nervous, a little uncomfortable in the first games, but now I know my teammates closer and I feel better on the ice. I feel comfortable in the games. It's just beautiful being here."
Svechnikov has played seven games with the Wings this season. The challenge for him is making the most of limited minutes.
"I have to use my chance," Svechnikov said. "Every shift I got on the ice I have to give everything what I have and earn it. Earning the ice time, earning what I got. It's way different. I got the different ice time now. I have to earn it. Nobody is just going to give it to me for free."
Blashill said the Philadelphia game was Svechnikov's best since he got called up.
"I thought he held onto the puck and was real strong in the offensive zone and I think that resulted in a few chances," Blashill said. "I think he was plus-four in our chance plus-minus that we keep. That was his best game for sure. I think it was a good step. I think the biggest thing with Svech, like a lot of young players, he's real hard on himself.
"As he's been here probably over the course of 6-7 games, he's gotten a little more relaxed, a little more comfortable in the system and I think that's allowed him to be a little bit better player and as does that he gets a chance to earn more minutes. I think that's a good step. For me is his strength on puck is something that can separate him from other guys on the team and other guys on the team."
Abdelkader can remember what it was like being a young player trying to establish himself in the league.
"I think anytime he can get that first one off his back and not have to worry about that, it can help," Abdelkader said. "He's played better every game he's been up here, kind of adjusted to how he needs to play. It's obviously different than playing in the American League. He's a big, strong player that can go hard to the net, has some good skill and a good shot."
Svechnikov said he heard from his younger brother, Andrei, after the game.
"I talked to him," Svechnikov said. "Face time, all night we were talking. He's very happy, and my mom, too."
Svechnikov said he plans to be at the NHL Entry Draft in Dallas this June to watch his brother get selected.
Some have projected the younger Svechnikov could go as high as No. 2 overall.
"Now it's his time to shine," Svechnikov said. "Very exciting. Very happy for him. Very proud. It's going to be great time to be at the draft and see where he goes. He'll be ready."
As the older brother by nearly four years, of course he has some advice as the draft draws near.
"Just be ready," Svechnikov said. "It's a different game. I'm gonna teach him this summer how to be a pro a little bit off the ice and stuff. I think he is mature. He knows what's going on and he's very mature. I'm going to help him a lot. I talk to him every day. He is learning."