The Detroit Red Wings (5-4-3) are home tonight to take on the Chicago Blackhawks (4-8-0). The Red Wings are 4-1-3 in their last eight games. That includes a 2-1-1 western road trip. Coach Todd McLellan’s team is three points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and rank 21st in the NHL. The Blackhawks rank 31st out of the NHL’s 32 teams.
Where: Little Caesars Arena
When: 7 p.m. ET
TV/Radio: ESPN+, Hulu, Disney+/97.1 FM
Odds: Chicago (+1.5, -170), Detroit (-1.5, +142), DRAFTKINGS
Detroit Red Wings
Hot: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, with 11 hits against Edmonton, has established that he is a serious candidate for Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year). He boasts eight points, 28 shots on goal and 54 hits. He is also plus-nine.
Not: Defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka was a healthy scratch the last three games on the road trip. He has played seven of Detroit’s 12 games.
Spotlight: Former Red Wings player Patrick Kane is making his first appearance in Little Caesars Arena since rejoining the Chicago Blackhawks (two season, $8 million per season). The Blackhawks originally drafted him and he was a member of three Stanley Cup championship series in Chicago. The Red Wings will likely have a video tribute to Kane tonight during the game.
Story: The Red Wings are 3-3-1 at home. . . The Red Wings rank 26th in the NHL in scoring at 2.58 goals per games. Their power play is 15th at 21.4%. . . Unless interim GM Shawn Horcoff decides to go with three goalies, the Red Wings will have to return Michal Postava back to the Grand Rapids Griffins once Daniil Tarasov is ready to rejoin the lineup. ‘ . . Injuries: Marco Kasper (upper body, week-to-week). Mason Appleton (upper body), could be back in a couple of weeks. Albert Johansson (undisclosed) return date unclear; Daniil Tarasov (Undisclosed) is practicing. He’s expecting to be cleared today.
Detroit Projected Lines
Alex DeBrincat — Emmitt Finnie — Victor Arvidsson
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard — Dylan Larkin — Lucas Raymond
Michael Rasmussen – Andrew Copp — J.T. Compher
Carter Mazur – Nate Danielson — Keegan Kolesar
Defense Pairings
Ben Chiarot — Moritz Seider
Andreas Englund or Axel Sandin-Pellikka — Anton Johansson –
William Wallinder — Justin Faulk
Goalies
John Gibson is the probable starter. Danill Tarasov is the backup if he is cleared to play today.
Subs, Andreas Englund, Alek Sandin-Pellikka
Chicago Blackhawks
Story: Kane has five points in his last five games and lead the Blackhawks with eight points. He needs one more assist to become the 21st player to reach 900 assists in a career. . . Goalie Spencer Knight leads the NHL with 94 high-danger saves. . . Rookie Roman Kantserov leads all NHL rookies with five goals. . . Injuries: Bowen Byram (undisclosed , day-to-day.
Projected Lines
Roman Kantserov-Connor Bedard- Ryan Greene
Tyler Bertuzzi-Anton Frondell-Ryan Donato
Oliver Moore-Frank Nazar-Patrick Kane
Cole Smith-Jordan Greenway-Teuvo Teravainen
Defense Pairings
Alex Vlasic— Ian Cole
Wyatt Kaiser — Artyom Levshunov
Kevin Korchinski — Sam Rinzel
Goalies
Spencer Knight (Arvid Soderblom backing up)
Kevin has written professionally for almost 50 years. He was USA TODAY’s lead hockey writer from 1986 to 2019. … More about Kevin Allen