Nick Jensen

Defenseman Nick Jensen is scheduled to make his NHL debut for the Red Wings tonight in Tampa.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

TAMPA, Fla. - As disappointed as Nick Jensen was to see his NHL debut pushed back a day because of Monday's postponement, there was one good thing that came out of it as far as the Detroit Red Wings defenseman is concerned.

None of his family members wasted a trip to North Carolina only to see poor ice conditions at PNC Arena wipe out the game and push Jensen's first NHL game back to tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena.

"There was no one that could make a flight," said Jensen, who was recalled from Grand Rapids Sunday and arrived in Raleigh in time for Monday's morning skate. "Everyone that I know was up in Minnesota or Michigan.

"I think the earliest they could have got down was 8:30 or so, which was looking like they would have made it at one point but it got canceled. I'm glad nobody came down for it."

The big bonus is Jensen won't be alone tonight as his wife plans to be on hand when her husband finally skates in an NHL game at age 26 after four pro seasons with the Griffins.

After Tuesday's morning skate, Jensen was able to joke about the circumstances that delayed his debut.

A hose connected to the ice-chilling equipment blew about an hour before the scheduled faceoff and although it was repaired, the ice temperature never got low enough to insure the safety of the players.

The game was finally postponed after a delay of about 1 hour, 45 minutes. No makeup date has been scheduled.

"Yesterday was an interesting first debut," Jensen said. "It was kind of funny. It's going to make a good story one day, obviously. It was kind of tough getting ready for the game, 10 minutes before we're on the ice, I'm putting my gear on and find out we have a delay.

"Thinking we're going in 20 minutes or so, ended up waiting around two hours, legs started tightening up anyways so I guess it's a good thing they called it. A lot of guys were out of it. I'm in tonight so I've got another game to look forward to, another game to get ready for.

"There's nothing you can really do so I just rolled with the punches on it. Like I said, I'll laugh about it one day and I won't forget it. I'll always remember that one."

Jensen was inserted into the lineup Monday after fellow defenseman Brian Lashoff was hit in the mouth with a puck during warmups.

Coach Jeff Blashill said Lashoff - who skated this morning - will be available tonight and the final lineup decisions would be made shortly before the opening faceoff.

But Jensen said he's been told he will indeed make his debut tonight.

Although he was disappointed his first NHL game was delayed 24 hours, Jensen understood the decision not to risk the safety of the players was the correct call.

"Absolutely," he said. "You do have to protect the players if the ice is bad. I've seen guys blow knees out, be out for the season, on ice that has been better than that. So I think it's a good decision."

Like many of his new teammates, Jensen said he'd never seen anything quite like what unfolded leading up to the postponement.

"That's why I think it was funny," he said. "I finally get my chance in the NHL, which is the biggest stage of them all and I've never seen that in my life. So I thought it was funny, a little bad luck, but what are you going to do?

"There's nothing you can really do but laugh about it. Nothing's going to get done being mad or upset. You just gotta get ready for the game tonight."

Jensen said he's not positive who he'll be paired with but thinks it might be Jonathan Ericsson.