DETROIT – Teemu Pulkkinen never saw a shot opportunity he didn’t like. Those who’ve played with him say he’s never taken a shot that wasn’t packed with a lot of power.

Pulkkinen, with his wicked one-timer, will make his NHL debut Friday for the Detroit Red Wings against the Edmonton Oilers at Joe Louis Arena (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).

Pulkkinen practiced Thursday on a line with Cory Emmerton, his center much of the season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, and Drew Miller. Coach Mike Babcock said he hasn’t decided on his lines for the game. But Pulkkinen will be manning the left point on the second power-play unit, ready to blast away.

“He’s got an unbelievable shot, possibly one of the best I’ve ever played with or seen,” Emmerton said. “I don’t know if he’s scored an ugly goal all year; they’ve all been pretty much slap shots, blowing it by the goalie.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him really take a wrist shot, it’s always some sort of snap shot or slap shot. That’s just one of those weapons he has. It’s a gift, it’s a skill and he uses it really well.”

Pulkkinen leads the Griffins with 26 goals and 51 points in 60 games. He likes to find open spots and set up for his one-timer.



“I’ve been practicing that (shot) since I was a little kid,” Pulkkinen said. “I like to shoot the puck. That’s my type of game. I want to shoot, score goals, so that’s what I like to work on.”

Gustav Nyquist, who played with Pulkkinen in Grand Rapids the first six weeks of the season, said, “He likes to wind up and when he gets that extra time it’s hard for the goalie to react to a hard shot like that.”

Goaltender Jimmy Howard said facing Pulkkinen’s shot in practice is “a little scary.”

“I don’t think he even knows where it’s going half the time,” Howard said. “So he can really fire it and he’s got some great speed, too, that we can use up front.”

The Red Wings could use all the offense they can get. They’ve scored just one goal in their past two games, after scoring 20 in their first five games following the Olympic break.

Pulkkinen was recalled Wednesday because Tomas Jurco is out two-to-four weeks with a broken rib. How long Pulkkinen stays depends on how well he plays and how soon others (Darren Helm, Stephen Weiss, Daniel Cleary) return from injuries. None is due back until next week, at the earliest.

Pulkkinen gives the club a much-needed right-handed shot. It has only two other right-handed shooters in the lineup (Daniel Alfredsson and Luke Glendening).

“He looks like he shoots the puck, so shoot the puck,” Babcock said. “Make sure you play well defensively and whatever you do that got you called up, make sure you do.”

These are key games in the Red Wings’ chase for a playoff spot. Pulkkinen said he’s not nervous.

“I’ve been playing hockey since I was a little kid so it’s just another game,” Pulkkinen said. “It’s different, but you just have to enjoy it and have fun.”

Whether it’s this season or next year, Pulkkinen hopes to join a group of young forwards (Nyquist, Jurco, Tomas Tatar and Riley Sheahan) who have transitioned well to the NHL.

“Obviously, the NHL is a different level; we’ll see how that plays out,” Emmerton said. “But I think he’s got a real bright future.”