Updates

The Detroit chapter of the Hockey Writers Association has nominated Niklas Kronwall for the 2019 Masterton Trophy. Very deserving choice #RedWings

— Ted Kulfan (@tkulfan) March 28, 2019

As a reminder, every team gets a nominee voted on by the local chapter. I think this is a great choice for the Wings.

Red Wings optional morning skate here in Buffalo. pic.twitter.com/Ag8gWhBnOU

— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) March 28, 2019

I appreciate the diggers still using the energy to type out the word “optional” in their  morning skate tweets.

In better news:

Coach Blashill anticipates Mantha and Glendening playing tonight. #DETvsBUF

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 28, 2019

Lineups

DETROIT

Guessing hard, here. Take as many grains of salt as necessary.

Anthony Mantha - Dylan Larkin - Tyler Bertuzzi
Taro Hirose - Andreas Athanasiou - Luke Glendening -
Darren Helm - Frans Nielsen - Ryan Kuffner
Martin Frk - Christoffer Ehn - Matt Puempel

Danny DeKeyser - Filip Hronek
Niklas Kronwall - Madison Bowey
Brian Lashoff - Luke Witkowski

Jimmy Howard
Jonathan Bernier

Sabres

Conor Sheary - Jack Eichel - Alex Nylander
Jeff Skinner - Evan Rodrigues - Sam Reinhart
Tage Thompson - Casey Middlestadt - Jason Pominville
Zemgus Girgensons - Johan Larsson - Kyle Okposo

Rasmus Dahlin - Brandon Montour
Lawrence Pilut - William Borgen
Marco Scandella - Casey Nelson

Carter Hutton
Linus Ullmark

Keys to the Game

Don’t Let Eichel Score

I don’t want to relitigate the whole “I want them to tank but I don’t want to root for a loss in any single game” thing that I constantly struggle with, but win or lose, I don’t like Jack Eichel so I don’t want him doing good things against the Red Wings. Send his Alex Winter-lookin’ ass on a bogus journey.

We Can Be Hirose Just for One Day

Again, you decide on the best outcome of the game, but keep the Taro Hirose point streak alive. I don’t care if you have to pull the goalie while up by three late in the third. I want Taro Hirose points!

Don’t Embarrass the Family

Don’t get hurt or suspended. Yeah, that’s it. The players know what’s at stake here and it’s real easy to lose composure in meaningless late season games and do dumb stuff. Please don’t do dumb stuff.