Hey folks, long time, no write. We’re back to the time of year that every game feels like life or death, so given the stakes, we decided to bring back some game day coverage for the home stretch. Here’s hoping it gives the team the boost it needs.
There are no moral victories with what’s on the line, but Detroit’s coming off of one of its most impressive games of the season in terms of offensive chances — missing its captain, no less — on Saturday against Boston. They weren’t able to solve Jeremy Swayman enough times to win (haunted by a couple of crossbars and an attempted first-period buzzer beater that was a hair too late), but hopefully they can carry some offensive confidence into tonight’s tilt against an Ottawa team with a battered blueline (Jake Sanderson, Nick Jensen and Dennis Gilbert are out long-term, and Thomas Chabot and Lassi Thomson left last night’s game).
It certainly wouldn’t hurt if they get their captain back, and that’s looking like a possibility. Dylan Larkin skated on a regular line at Monday’s practice and was ruled a game-time decision by Todd McLellan, per Logan Reever. Eyes and ears will be on today’s morning skate to see if the team provides further clarity.
Detroit is on the outside looking into the playoff picture as of this morning, but they do hold a game in hand over the New York Islanders, who they trail by one point for the second Wild Card spot. They’re also only two points back of Montreal and Boston, so out-of-town results will also weigh heavily on the Red Wings’ playoff odds by the end of the night (these have to work in our favor one of these nights, right?!)
The Red Wings need to capitalize on the advantage the schedule has provided this week, as well. Not only has the team been at home all week, but they’re facing a Senators squad that played last night in New York and will be playing its third game in four nights. The Senators are similarly desperate to keep their hopes alive, moving within a point of Detroit after a 2-1 win last night in which the Rangers managed just nine shots. Truly inspired stuff, guys.
Last bit of news, the team has assigned defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka to the Griffins, an expected move after he has not seen the lineup since the acquisition of Justin Faulk. I think this season’s been a success for ASP, but it was apparent that coaching trust in his defensive game was waning. Not a bad thing in my book — it’s really rare for a defenseman this young to have played this many games on a competitive team, especially while adjusting from the European style. This move will keep him game-ready should the Red Wings suffer an injury, but also provides the opportunity to get more high-stakes reps with a team that’s already clinched a playoff spot. As much as I’ll hear out the argument that he could help Detroit right now, we’re talking a 12-14 minute third-pair role in which he’d be asked to play safe, now he gets 20+ minutes with major power-play time to hopefully springboard him to the next level in 2026-27.
How to Watch
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit
Radio: 97.1 The Ticket
Red Wings Projected Lineup
Finnie – Larkin* – Raymond
DeBrincat – Compher – Kane
Kasper – Copp – Appleton
Perron – Dries – van Riemsdyk
Edvinsson – Seider
Chiarot – Faulk
Johansson – Bernard-Docker
Gibson
Talbot
*game-time decision
Senators Projected Lineup
Batherson – Stutzle – Giroux
Tkachuk – Cozens – Greig
Cousins – Pinto – Amadio
Foegele – Eller – ZetterlundChabot** – Zub
Kleven – SpenceThomson** – Matinpalo
Ullmark
Reimer
**left last night’s game with injuries and are expected to miss time, no news yet on recalls
Rooting Guide: Toronto over Boston, Carolina over Montreal, Chicago over NY Islanders, Philadelphia over Columbus, Colorado over Pittsburgh, Minnesota over Tampa Bay, St. Louis over Washington, and no overtimes just to be safe.
