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Gameday Updates
Despite missing Monday’s practice, all signs point to Danny DeKeyser returning to the Wings’ lineup after sitting out with a hand injury since Dec. 4.
Blashill said he anticipates Jacob de la Rose, who did not practice today, to be available Tuesday. Danny DeKeyser (hand) said he feels ready to play, but needs clearance from trainers.
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) January 14, 2019
DeKeyser is playing tonight, said Blashill....#RedWings will put Rasmussen (hamstring) on IR....allows Hronek to stick around, temporarily...Bashill not saying if they'll play 6 or 7 defensemen tonight vs. Anaheim
— Ted Kulfan (@tkulfan) January 15, 2019
Based on this, we’re guessing at an 11/7 setup for tonight with JDLR as the odd-man out.
Mired in an 11-game losing streak, the Ducks’ front office made a minor splash on Monday, acquiring forward Devin Shore from the Dallas Stars in exchange for veteran forward Andrew Cogliano. Shore is set to make his Ducks debut on the third line tonight.
Projected Lines
Red Wings
Forwards
Tyler Bertuzzi — Dylan Larkin — Gustav Nyquist
Thomas Vanek — Frans Nielsen — Anthony Mantha
Darren Helm — Luke Glendening — Andreas Athanasiou
Justin Abdelkader — Christoffer Ehn
Defense
Jonathan Ericsson — Mike Green
Danny DeKeyser* — Dennis Cholowski
Niklas Kronwall — Nick Jensen
Filip Hronek
Goalies
Jimmy Howard
Jonathan Bernier
Ducks
Forwards
Rickard Rakell — Ryan Getzlaf — Jakob Silfverberg
Nick Ritchie — Adam Henrique — Ondrej Kase
Devin Shore — Carter Rowney — Daniel Sprong
Kiefer Sherwood — Ryan Kesler — Brian Gibbons
Defense
Hampus Lindholm — Brandon Montour
Cam Fowler — Josh Manson
Jacob Larsson — Jake Dotchin
Goalies
John Gibson
Chad Johnson
Keys to the Game
Defensive Zone Pressure
The Ducks are extremely desperate for a win, currently in the midst of an 11-game losing streak. Despite the results, they’re still dangerous when you’re playing with that level of desperation and the Wings’ recipe for success starts with sustained pressure in the opposing zone. Put the throttle down early and keep the foot on the gas, not allowing the Ducks to establish themselves and get comfortable.
Set the Tone
The Ducks have a pretty underwhelming lineup on paper — particularly after their top line — and although it’s not typically their game, the Wings need to set the tone early tonight. Establishing the physical edge and putting the Ducks on their heels in the first period will allow the home team to use its speed and create scoring chances. This is where a guy like Abdelkader can be effective. Don’t be stupid, but be the dominator out of the gate and don’t let the Ducks get settled.