Notes: Wings hopeful Timashov will play Monday night in Detroit

DETROIT -- If all goes well, Dmytro Timashov will play in two games for the Red Wings without even practicing with the team.
The odd situation is because Timashov, a Ukrainian-born player who has a Swedish passport from playing several years there, was picked up on waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs last Monday.

Timashov was able to play for the Wings Saturday night as they were in Ottawa but was not able to return with them to Detroit until he got a visa.
That is supposed to happen in time for Timashov to join the team for Monday's game against Colorado but not for the morning skate.
"That's the anticipation," Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "It just depends if he gets his passport back in time and we can get him here. Right now, I don't know for sure but we're hoping."
Timashov played 11 minutes Saturday and was plus-1 as he was on the ice when the Wings scored their first goal.
However, it has to be hard for him to get the systems down without being with the team, which Timashov could not do Sunday as he wasn't in practice at the BELFOR Training Center.
"It would have been nice if he could have practiced today," Blashill said. "It would have been nice if he could have came right away and practiced. It's hard to be a cohesive five-man unit if not everybody knows what's going on. I thought he played fine last night, but you don't play as individuals, you play as a team and so that part makes it hard for sure. With that said, we'd like to play him because we want to see what he's all about, see if he can help us. It's just something we have to balance."
Blashill said Timashov plays heavier than his 192 pounds. The young forward led the Wings with five hits against the Senators.
The Wings believe he can provide skill among the bottom six forwards.
"Somebody that can play in those lines, not have to play top-six minutes but can provide some more skill, can play hard, can be good defensively, can bring a physical element and just help our depth," Blashill said. "That's what we're hoping for. He's got a chance to do that and just has to go out and prove it every day."
Sam Gagner, acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in the Andreas Athanasiou trade the same day the Wings picked up Timashov, actually played with Timashov in the AHL for the Toronto Marlies last season.
"He plays with a lot of pace," Gagner said. "He's a good skater and he's got a strong lower body, so he's able to hang on to the puck and win battles. He's got some skill and hopefully he's able to help us. I know he's going through some visa troubles but he'll hopefully get here. He played well last night, though."
LINDSTROM STATING HIS CASE: Gustav Lindstrom may still be searching for his first career NHL point, but the impression he's made on the Red Wings since he was called up in early February has been nothing but positive.
It's Lindstrom's calm demeanor and simple game which has stood out in the 12 games he's played thus far as a Red Wing.
"I don't want to downplay the word simple. I would say he just tends to make the right play," Blashill said. "The right play might be the simple play and the right play might be a cross-seam play, he just makes the right play that's available and manages risk-reward very well.
"He knows when he's got an opportunity to make a tape-to-tape pass and knows when he's got to live another day. That's something in hockey that's extremely important. He's good defensively, he's got a good brain on him and he can pass the puck. He's done a really good job so far."
When he arrived in Detroit, the laid-back Swede didn't want to overthink his game by trying to morph into something he is not.
"I didn't really know what to expect when I came here. I just wanted to try to play the same way that I did the whole season," Lindstrom said. "That's why they called me up, so I just try to be the same player. It doesn't matter if I'm here or in GR (Grand Rapids). I try to play the same way."
In his 12 games, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound defenseman has been held without a point, is minus-7, has been assessed 10 penalty minutes, registered seven shots on goal with an average ice time of 16:27.
Lindstrom has also demonstrated he's not shy about taking the body and being a physical presence out on the ice, an aspect to his game which isn't a surprise to Blashill.
"I had known of it a bit," Blashill said. "I think he's got a lot of completeness to his game; he's got that physicality that comes from competitiveness. He's got a good brain and he makes good plays."
As he gains confidence with each game, Lindstrom has embraced the "structure" of the NHL game, though he admits the talent level in the league is off the charts.
"All the players are of course better. The top players are so good here," Lindstrom said. "They're stronger to play in the corners and stuff. It's easier to hit someone in GR and take the puck. You can't really do that here. But it might be more structured with the puck. I think that is better here than it is down in GR. It's more like you know what's going to happen a little bit more here.
"With the puck it's more like you almost know before you get the puck where you have your teammates. I think it's almost easier with the puck here. But then of course it's so much harder to play against the players here in the D zone.
"I like it when it's structured out there. You know what's going to happen a little bit. Sometimes in the American League it feels like there's players everywhere. Sometimes, you have so much time. Sometimes, you don't have any time at all. It's more different situations in GR."
If Grand Rapids makes the AHL playoffs, Lindstrom will be part of the Griffins playoff roster, but recently Grand Rapids has been hit with some key injuries on the back end and is currently on a four-game losing streak.
Last Monday, Wings general manager Steve Yzerman told the press it would be beneficial in the development of several of the Wings top prospects if the Griffins made the playoffs.
Would the Red Wings consider sending down Lindstrom to help bolster the Griffins' chances of making the postseason?
"Those are conversations Steve and I will have. I think those decisions are day to day," Blashill said. "There's a belief amongst all of us that if they could make the playoffs it would be good for the development of some guys. I don't think it's the end-all, be-all, I think it can be a good development piece. So we'll see."
Regardless if he finishes out the year in Detroit or is sent back down to Grand Rapids, Lindstrom will just maintain his even-keeled approach.
"I am getting more and more comfortable every single day. So much like outside the rink, too, feeling comfortable coming in here every day," Lindstrom said. "I'm beginning to know the guys (better) every day, too, so that helps a lot (being) here a couple of weeks now. It helps everything.
"When I feel more comfortable out there, I play the same way I always do, like I did in GR. I play simple."
INJURY UPDATES: Forwards Darren Helm and Adam Erne did not practice with the team Sunday.
Blashill said he believes Helm will be fine to play Monday against Colorado.
Unfortunately, the news doesn't seem to be as good for Erne, who had a nice steal and assist on the first goal Saturday scored by Frans Nielsen in Ottawa.

"Erne will not play tomorrow," Blashill said. "He'll miss some time. We'll know more tomorrow, he's seeing a specialist. That's the way it goes."
Blashill said Erne's injury is different from the one that kept him out Feb. 25 against New Jersey.
KIVENMAKI OUT: Wings forward prospect Otto Kivenmäki suffered a severe injury while playing for Ässät during a game in Finland's Liiga.
Kivenmäki, Detroit's seventh-round pick, 191st overall, in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, was hit by Lukko's David Nemecek and is now in the hospital, according to the Ässät website.
Tweet from @TelialovesLiiga: Nemecek taklaa Kivenm��ke�� ja l��htee suihkun puolelle. 😬 #Liiga #��ss��t #Lukko pic.twitter.com/fUbvZhXkDO
The statement on Ässät's website, as translated through Google, said: "Otto Kivenmäki, who was injured in Saturday's match, is currently in hospital for observation and examination. Otto is conscious and his situation is stable. "Otto Kivenmäki is conscious and his mood is stable. He will be followed in the hospital overnight. Commenting on Otto's recovery and prognosis can be made at the earliest 2-3 weeks, comments Hilkka Ryhänen, a member of the Ace medical team, Ace match doctor and Kivenmäki doctor."
On another website, Svenska Yle, a story had comments from Kivenmäki's mother's Facebook page.
Translated with Google, Riina Kivenmäki said, "Thanks for all the worried messages for myself and Otto. I can't respond to everyone personally, but every message has warmed me up. The young man is doing fairly well considering the circumstances, he's being monitored in the hospital and even laughing already. However, there is currently no memory available and there is a big cut in the head. Tomorrow says more. The future will tell the rest. The season (and, at worst, a whole career as an ice hockey player) is over and his high school finals have now been forgotten.
"A big thank you to the Ace team doctor for exemplary activities on the ice, in the locker room and beyond, and to all those who understand that this is not about a career of one young player but, at worst, the life of a beloved family member and young man important to his friends."