Morning Skate: Round Three

by JeffHancock41 on Jan 14, 2012 5:18 AM CST in Game Preview

Ah, we meet again.

After not playing against each other at all for the first few months of the season, the Blackhawks and Red Wings will square off for the third time sixteen days. Today's game, however, will be the first game played in Detroit. The two previous games saw each team take a victory in Chicago. The Hawks won the first game 3-2 in regulation and the Wings took the second game by the same score but in overtime.

It's an extremely important game for the Wings. A regulation win will put them in a tie with the Hawks with 57 points and the Wings would still have a game in hand. Depending on what the Blues do at home against the Wild, the Wings could jump from third in the Central to first. With the division race so tight, it's even more important to win the games against division foes.

Second City Hockey is your SBNation Blackhawks' blog.

Puck drop is just after 12:30p ET on NBC.

The Expected Lineup

Johan Franzen -- Pavel Datsyuk -- Danny Cleary

Valtteri Filppula -- Henrik Zetterberg -- Jiri Hudler

Drew Miller -- Darren Helm -- Jan Mursak

Cory Emmerton -- Justin Abdelkader -- Tomas Holmstrom

Nicklas Lidstrom -- Ian White

Niklas Kronwall -- Brad Stuart

Jakub Kindl -- Jonathan Ericsson

Jimmy Howard (starting)

Ty Conklin

Todd Bertuzzi is a game-time decision with a back/groin injury. If Bert is good to go, expect to see Mursak or Emmerton scracthed.

Injuries: Mike Commodore (foot//ankle) and Patrick Eaves (jaw)

BLACKHAWKS	HOW THEY MATCH UP	RED WINGS
26-13-5 (57 pts; 2nd in West)	Record	27-15-1 (55 pts; 5th in West)
3.18 (4th)	Goals Per Game	3.16 (5th)
2.82 (15th)	Goals Against Per Game	2.35 (6th)
18.5% (10th)	Power Play %	19.1% (8th)
79.0% (26th)	Penalty Kill %	81.0% (23rd)
Jonathan Toews (22 goals)	Goal Leader	Johan Franzen (17 goals)
Marian Hossa (46 points)	Points Leader	Pavel Datsyuk (44 points)

The Red Wings are 362-262-84-9 (W-L-T-OTL) all-time against the Blackhawks.
Detroit will be going for their 14th straight win at home, which would tie the franchise record.
You know what's cooler than 100 wins for Jimmy Howard? 101 wins.
In the two games between the two clubs, the Hawks have had nine power plays and two penalty shots compared to three power pays for the Wings.

Prediction: Wings go for 2-3 on the power play and win this one 5-2. Nicklas Lidstrom is your player of the game.

Let's Go Red Wings.

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Comments

really not

wanting this to be a stressful game, just dont know if I could handle it. Looking for the wings to blow them out so I can be comfortable for a change.

by bond021 on Jan 14, 2012 8:00 AM CST reply actions

Prediction

I actually get a shitload of work done today since I’m going to have to avoid the fun part of the internet until I get to leave today.

by J.J. from Kansas on Jan 14, 2012 8:03 AM CST reply actions

Screwed up my prediction

I forgot to include Detroit winning in my prediction on the form.

Fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.

by Elfuego51 on Jan 14, 2012 8:48 AM CST reply actions

Thought of this when you said that 101 was better than 100.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX6N2tgLmaQ

Living in Chicago is great... apart from the Blackhawks fans.

by Cornelious on Jan 14, 2012 8:55 AM CST reply actions

cmon red wings

i hate the blackhawks with a passion

by Jared F on Jan 14, 2012 9:16 AM CST reply actions

He's new

And already he’s accepted ;)

Winging It In Motown

by Amerinadian on Jan 14, 2012 10:42 AM CST up reply actions

Reading some of the Chicago press and team quotes from Malik

and it worries me that the Hawks are going to goon it up to get “revenge” for what may or may not have been an injury caused by Jiri Hudler’s slash. I hope they don’t do that…especially with Commie and Tuzzi out.

Kronner and Abby need to step up and make sure to protect our boys. I wish I could ask Ericsson, but I don’t think he’d listen. Franzen’s been a little tough lately too, so maybe he’ll keep things in check.

Regardless, I know Jimmy will be in faces if they get out of hand.

Manager of the Mursak League's Banzai Bananas. BANZAI!!!

by Dannik99 on Jan 14, 2012 10:47 AM CST reply actions

I don’t think Chicago is going to goon it up beyond Jamal Mayers trying to fight Justin Abdelkader or maybe Brent Seabrook getting away with more cross-checking and interfering than he normally does.

Simply, the Wings need to just move their feet. Quenneville loves to do his little “woe is us” bitching to the media about other teams and the refs to protect his precious little flowers. Unfortunately, it works. I wouldn’t be surprised to see another case where Detroit gets penalties for doing the same things that Blackhawks get away with. It’s up to the Wings to just play hockey.

It’s just hilarious that the press that surrounds the Hawks loves to parrot everything the Stache says and that it gets out to the gullible among the fans to where there are Hawks fans out there who actually (and stupidly) believe that Detroit is a dirty team.

by J.J. from Kansas on Jan 14, 2012 10:57 AM CST up reply actions