The Detroit Red Wings (34-20-6) are on the road today to play the Nashville Predators (27-24-8). The Red Wings own the top wildcard position in the Eastern Conference. They are five points ahead the Washington Capitals who are the top team below the wildcard cut line. The Predators are three points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Where:  Bridgestone Arena

When: 2 p.m. ET

TV/Radio: FanDuel Sports Network/97.1 FM

Odds:  Detroit (-1.5, +230), Nashville (+1.5, -285), DRAFTKINGS

Hot: Defenseman Moritz Seider is averaging 25:39 minutes per game, the highest average of his career. He’s also plus-14.

Not: Michael Rasmussen has no goals in his last 16 games

Spotlight: Captain Dylan Larkin has two goals, one assist and seven shots on goal in his two games since coming back to the Red Wings after helping USA win the gold medal.

Story:  John Gibson is the projected starter for Detroit in goal. . . The Red Wings-Predators game is being played at 2 p.m. ET to allow the NHL to present a live prime time game on European television. The game will play at 8 p.m. CET in Europe. . . The Red Wings are 16-10-4 on the road this season. . . Detroit’s power play ranks ninth at 23.2%. . . Detroit has scored 100 five-on-five goals in 60 games. That’s an average of 1.66 per game. . . Elmer Soderblom could replace Shine in the lineup. Soderblom sat out against Carolina. Injuries: None

Detroit Projected Lines

Marco Kasper — Dylan Larkin — Lucas Raymond

Alex DeBrincat — Andrew Copp — Patrick Kane

Emmitt Finnie — J.T. Compher — Mason Appleton

Dominik Shine — Michael Rasmussen — James van Riemsdyk

Defense Pairings

Simon Edvinsson — Moritz Seider

Ben Chiarot — Axel Sandin-Pellikka

Albert Johansson– Jacob Bernard-Docker

Goalies

Cam Talbot (John Gibson backing up)

Subs: Travis Hamonic, Erik Gustafsson, Elmer Soderblom

Nashville Predators

Story: Only four NHL teams have given up more goals than the Predators (3.44 goals per game). . . The Predators will make a decision about whether to trade Ryan O’Reilly before Friday’s NHL Trade Deadline. He sincerely wants to stay. The best guess is they will keep him, although that is far from a guarantee. As a strong faceoff guy, a productive scorer and a strong defensive player, his trade value is high. . . Nashville’s team save percentage of .890 ranks 23rd in the NHL. Injury: Adam Wilsby (lower body).  He left in the second period of a 3-2 OT loss to Dallas Saturday.

Projected Lines

Steven Stamkos — Ryan O’Reilly — Luke Evangelista

Filip Forsberg — Erik Haula — Jonathan Marchessault

Michael Bunting — Michael McCarron — Cole Smith

Zachary L’Heureux — Tyson Jost — Matthew Wood

Defense Pairings

Brady Skjei — Roman Josi

Nicolas Hague — Nick Blankenburg

Justin Barron — Nick Perbix

Goalies

Juuse Saros (Justus Annunen backing up)

 

 

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