The Wings haven't had more than 12 forwards available until this week, when Tyler Motte is expected to return to the lineup.

It’s not so much that he was hit then it was how he was hit that’s leaving Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Motte in a sour mood.“I didn’t like the hit, to be honest with you,” Motte said. He’s been an absentee from the Detroit the past seven games after absorbing a hit from New York Rangers defenseman Victor Mancini in at Oct.

DETROIT – A dozen games into the season, Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde might have his first lineup decision at forward. Tyler Motte is close to returning and might be available Wednesday at Chicago (8 p.m., TNT).