#RedWings optional morning skate, a lot of guys doing off-ice today. pic.twitter.com/rFs0D8pCmd
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) December 29, 2016
With another optional skate, we've got the lines/pairs the same as what was reported in yesterday's practice.
Line Combinations
Forwards
|
Tomas Tatar |
Henrik Zetterberg |
Anthony Mantha |
|
Gustav Nyquist |
Frans Nielsen |
Tomas Vanek |
|
Riley Sheahan |
Dylan Larkin |
Luke Glendening |
|
Drew Miller |
Andreas Athanasiou |
Steve Ott |
Defensemen
|
Danny DeKeyser |
Xavier Ouellet |
|
Niklas Kronwall |
Brendan Smith |
|
Jonathan Ericsson |
Nick Jensen |
Goaltenders
|
Jared Coreau (starting) |
|
Petr Mrazek |
Power Play units:
- Tatar-Zetterberg-Larkin-Mantha-Kronwall
- Nyquist-Nielsen-Vanek-Sheahan-Smith
Senator Line Combinations
Forwards
|
Ryan Dznigel |
Kyle Turris |
Bobby Ryan |
|
Mike Hoffman |
Jean-Gabriel Pageau |
Curtis Lazar |
|
Tom Pyatt |
Derick Brassard |
Mark Stone |
|
Casey Bailey |
Chris Kelly |
Chris Neil |
Defensemen
|
Marc Methot |
Erik Karlsson |
|
Dion Phaneuf |
Cody Ceci |
|
Mark Borowiecki |
Chris Wideman |
Goaltenders
|
Mike Condon (starting) |
|
Matt O'Connor |
Power Play units:
- Hoffman-Turris-Stone-Phanuef-Karlsson
- Dzingel-Brassard-Ryan-Ceci-Wideman
Keys to the Game:
Score the First Goal
The Red Wings have a hard time scoring goals right now. They have given up the first goal in 10 straight games. With the enormity of this road trip and the looming end of the playoff streak continuing to crush down on them and the amount of energy that will be feeding the Senators and their crowd early on from the pregame festivities it is vital that the Red Wings strike first.
Coreau the Coreaunderful
While Petr Mrazek has not been Petr the Great so far this season, the Red Wings desperately need a goaltender other than Howard to steal them a game or two on this road trip. Ottawa has some dangerous players but overall they are not overly scary offensively.
Continue to Shoot the Puck
The Wings have registered back to back games of 35+ shots on goal. They have also scored three goals in both games with several dangerous chances. This is a positive trend that they need to continue. Keep pushing the play and find ways to get rubber on the goalie.