DETROIT - They're young, European and just breaking into the NHL, but that doesn't mean Filip Hronek and Libor Sulak will simply accept being pushed around and turn the other cheek.
The Detroit Red Wings witnessed these rookie defensemen playing with an edge in the preseason and saw it again Thursday in their NHL debut, a season-opening 3-2 overtime loss to Columbus at Little Caesars Arena.
Sulak roughed it up with Josh Anderson in front of the Red Wings net and drew a penalty while leading the team with five hits. Hronek was involved in a couple of scrums without taking a penalty.