Updates

Red Wings

As of now, it looks like the same lineup as last game for Detroit.

Senators

According to Daily Faceoff (tweet has a large image, so I’m not embedding it):

Colin White (undisclosed injury) expected to play

Zack Smith (face) playing for the first time since Oct.26

Drake Batherson making his NHL debut.

(Advance congratulations to Drake Batherson on your first NHL goal).

Lineups

Detroit Red Wings

Darren Helm - Dylan Larkin - Anthony Mantha
Gustav Nyquist - Frans Nielsen - Andreas Athanasiou
Justin Abdelkader - Luke Glendening - Tyler Bertuzzi
Martin Frk - Wade Megan - Michael Rasmussen

Trevor Daley - Mike Green
Niklas Kronwall - Dennis Cholowski
Danny DeKeyser - Nick Jensen

Jimmy Howard
Jonathan Bernier

Ottawa Senators (in visual form)

Daily Faceoff

Daily Faceoff

Daily Faceoff

Keys to the Game

Keep it Going

Detroit keeps winning, having emerged victorious in four straight and seven out of eight games. The team is not only winning, but is also playing fun, up-tempo hockey, which has been fun to watch. Ottawa is second to last in the Eastern Conference, so the Wings should be able to take advantage of that to keep the streak alive.

Draw Penalties

Detroit’s power play is doing very well this season (currently 9th in 5v4 Goals For / 60), but they are still near the bottom in term of 5v4 time. The team needs to draw more penalties so they can take better advantage of the most effective tool in its arsenal. Ottawa is currently 30th in the league at goals against / 60 at 4v5, so more power play time can lead to a huge offensive boost tonight.

Watch out for Drake Batherson

The right winger wears #79, and he is making his NHL debut tonight. Combine that with the fact that I’ve never heard of him, and he’s nearly a lock to score. So, Detroit would do well to make sure he is covered whenever he’s on the ice.

(They should probably keep an eye on Matt Duchene too.)

Let’s Go Red Wings!