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Gameday Updates
Most-imporantly to start today after the optional morning skate:
Dylan Larkin says he’s game time decision. #RedWings
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) February 7, 2019
#RedWings Howard in starter’s net, hosting #GoldenKnights tonight. pic.twitter.com/wbFZ7xSn3y
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) February 7, 2019
Fun fact. Since Nov. 21, Jon Merrill (!) leads all Golden Knights defensemen with a downright stellar 57.59 Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5. He's also Vegas' second-ranked defenseman in HDCF% (56.82) during that span.
— Ryan Quigley (@RP_Quigs) February 7, 2019
Projected Lines
Red Wings Lineup
[UPDATE 4:15PM]
*Projected* lineup tonight against Vegas.#VGKvsDET || #LGRW pic.twitter.com/BKrxf6Twa7
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 7, 2019
With the skate being optional, we’re stuck with guessing, but based on these tweets, submit your own best guess
#RedWings in practice:
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) February 6, 2019
Abdelkader-Larkin-Nyquist
Vanek-Nielsen-Mantha
Helm-Glendening-Athanasiou
Ehn-de la Rose-Frk
DeKeyser-Jensen
Kronwall-Green
Ericsson-Cholowski
Daley-Witkowski
#RedWings Blashill said Michael Rasmussen returns to the Detroit lineup tonight.
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) February 7, 2019
Knights Lineup
Jonathan Marchessault — William Karlsson — Valentin Zykov
Max Pacioretty — Paul Stastny — Alex Tuch
Brandon Pirri — Cody Eakin — Reilly Smith
Ryan Carpenter — Pierre-Edouard Bellemare — Ryan Reaves
Brayden McNabb — Nate Schmidt
Shea Theodore — Deryk Engelland
Jon Merrill — Colin Miller
Marc-Andre Fleury
Maxime Lagace
Keys to the Game
Protect the Lead
During their three-game win streak, the Wings have drawn first blood in all three contests and managed to keep the lead. For the most part the Wings were the aggressor, except for a 35-save shutout by Jonathan Bernier over the Ottawa Senators. They’ve managed to limit second chances for opposing teams and playing sound defense in their own zone.
The Golden Knights are battled-tested with some good veteran forwards, so this should be a good test for the Wings on their home ice. Despite dropping four of their last five games, Vegas is well-coached and always plays a competitive style that even when behind can allow them the chance to climb back into hockey games. If the Wings get the lead, they will need to continue to be strong on the puck and weather Vegas’s speed on the forecheck.