Notebook: Suter continuing to develop; Lindstrom returns to practice

DETROIT -- The growing chemistry among the forwards on the Detroit Red Wings' second line may have started well before they were all donning the Winged Wheel. Specifically in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
As Pius Suter admitted on Tuesday, it was a very small sample size. But it was the first time Suter, Tyler Bertuzzi and Robby Fabbri played together on the same line, for the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League.

"We had a few games together," Suter said. "One really good one."

"Really good" is a humbling understatement. The trio combined for eight goals and 10 assists on Nov. 9, 2014, in a 9-4 win over the rival London Knights. Bertuzzi tallied a franchise record seven points with two goals and five assists, while Suter and Fabbri each recorded hat tricks.
In another fairly small sample size, the threesome is skating together once again. This time in the best league in the world.
Detroit is 2-1-1 since Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill moved Bertuzzi to the second line with Suter and Fabbri. They've produced a combined 12 points in the stretch, with all three scoring goals in a 5-4 overtime setback against the Dallas Stars last Friday.
It's easy to forget that Suter is in just his second NHL season. The 25-year-old Swiss native signed as a free agent with Detroit after not receiving a qualifying offer from the Chicago Blackhawks, with whom he debuted during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 campaign.
"A guy like Pius, who's only been in the league one and a half years, still can gain and improve his game from experience," Blashill said. "Even a little thing like the faceoff circle, getting to know the linesmen better, getting to know the tendencies of other players. That could make him a better faceoff guy, and I think he's improved throughout this year because of that."

After a slow start - Suter didn't tally his first point until the eighth game of the season - he has steadily improved his production. Suter had eight points on four goals and four assists in November, and six points among five assists in December. He heads into the final full week of January with three goals since the calendar turned to 2022.
Suter admittedly would like to score on a more regular basis. The recent line change could help accelerate those efforts. But he's also been a key member of both special teams units, which has increased his ice time.
"The other part, in terms of an individual's play, is sometimes opportunity," Blashill said. "I think he's done a pretty good job of earning a bunch of different opportunities here.
"His opportunity has improved, and I think that can make an impact on his result."

Suter and the Red Wings will return to the ice on Wednesday, when Detroit hosts the Blackhawks at Little Caesars Arena. It will be the second and final regular season meeting between the historic rivals, with a little extra meaning for Suter.
"We played there [in Chicago] already, but it will be fun. See a few guys and definitely motivated to play them," Suter said. "It was only one year, but still, a memorable time. It will be fun."

Lindstrom returns to practice, status for Wednesday still unclear

Defenseman Gustav Lindstrom returned to the ice on Tuesday, and was "able to get through the whole practice," according to Blashill. But his status for Wednesday's game remains unclear more than 24 hours before puck drop.
"We'll see where he's at. I'm going to want him to be close to 100 percent to play him," Blashill said.