Morning Skate: Red Wings at Kings

10:30p ET, Staples Center

Los Angeles, CA

TV: Fox Sports Detroit

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket

Kings Blog: Battle Of California, & Jewels From The Crown

The Wings pooped away a point last night when they let the fowl Ducks come back from a 2-0 deficit in a 4 minute span in the 3rd period, eventually losing in the shootout. They have to learn from their mistakes quickly, because they visit a Kings team tonight who can be much better than the Ducks when they’re on their game. L.A. is on a 7 game winning streak after beating the San Jose Sharks on Saturday so they’re rested, and riding a winning high. The Wings will be without the services of Captain Henrik Zetterberg and those are extremely big shoes to fill as other players have to step in and fill the void.

Mike Babcock talks a lot about players needing to do the “little things” correctly, and that the rest of the game will follow. Sitting back when you’re up 2-0 and getting late starts and having to come from behind aren’t doing those little things right. I feel like a lot of the Wings issues right now that cost them games or points, are the little things, and the Kings have the size and skill to make the Wings pay for those mistakes.

Jonathan Quick has had a sub par season with a .913 SV% and 2.43 GAA, but in the last month or so he’s getting his game back on track and playing more like himself. Jimmy Howard is coming off a torn groin, and while the team says he’s healthy and good to play, I don’t think he’s moving or playing like a goalie who’s 100%. As I’m writing this, I haven’t heard Babcock say anything about who’s starting tonight, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Gustavsson plays to give Jimmy a rest on back to backs so soon after recovering. However, knowing Jimmy Howard’s determination and desire to play, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in net either [ed: Monster is starting]. For now I’m assuming no lineup changes and we’ll post updates in the comments if we get news later today. One change I desperately want to see is Tomas Jurco moved up to play with Pulkkinen and Weiss and move Danny Cleary or Joakim Andersson down the the 4th line. It’s frustrating to watch Jurco “receive” passes from Glendening like last night, then we wonder why he’s not putting up points with those linemates and 10 minutes a night.

The Kings are going to play the Wings hard, both with their play, and physically, thankfully we know the Wings posess the capability to beat any team in the league. Which Red Wings team will show up tonight?

* Shrug *

The Expected Lineups

Forwards

Defensemen

Goaltenders

Scratches: Joakim Andersson or Danny Cleary

Injuries: Henrik Zetterberg (head), Johan Franzen (headaches), Kyle Quincey (mystery)

Forwards

Defensemen

Goaltenders

• The Red Wings are 85-79-27-2 (W-L-T-OTL) all-time in the regular season against the LA Kings./

• Last 10 Games: Detroit 5-3-2, Los Angeles 7-3-0/

• Howard is 10-6-0 all-time against the Kings in the regular season with a 2.38 GAA and .926 SV%./