Morning Skate: Red Wings @ Capitals — Preview and How to Watch

Time: 4:00 PM ET

Place: Capital One Arena

TV: FS-D, SN360, SNE

Radio: 97.1 FM The Ticket, 1270 AM

Caps Blog: Japers’ Rink

Game Preview

Well, well, well. The Red Wings enter Thanksgiving feeling pretty good about themselves, having won eight of their last ten games. And, it should be noted the boys in red and white have won four of their last five road games heading into Washington.

After a win Wednesday night over the Boston Bruins (in which they trailed entering the third period), we might have to start calling this team the ‘Cardiac Kids’ if they keep pulling off these comebacks. Andreas Athanasiou lit the lamp twice — including the game winner — over the Bruins and has six points in his last five games.

Meanwhile, the Capitals are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and are currently riding a three-game win streak. The Caps have won three of their last five contests on home ice and the overall series record in the regular season between these two teams is an even split at 50-50-16.

A tale of two goalies heading into this one as Jimmy Howard is 4-3-3 with a 2.82 GAA and .900 SV% in 11 career games against the Caps. Meanwhile, Braden Holtby has found much success against the Wings, riding career numbers of 9-2-2 with a 2.19 GAA, .920 SV% and a shutout in 13 meetings.

Lineup Notes

Of course, the Wings were without Darren Helm for Wednesday’s tilt with the Bruins and he is expected to miss six to eight weeks with an upper-body injury. Veteran Justin Abdelkader replaced him on the top line alongside Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha, but we will wait to see if line juggling master, Jeff Blashill, keeps things the same for this one.

The Caps decided to practice on Thanksgiving and it looks like the Wings might catch a break as two of their top forwards could be sitting this one out...