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Jets at Red Wings: Gameday Updates!

You want changes? We got a whoooooole lot of changes this morning. Not a single forward line nor defensive pairing has remained intact. Jurco out, Pulkkinen in, power play units tinkered with. Will PulkkyMonkeyBaby finally die tonight? Let’s hope so.

Interesting post-practice update, considering the Wings’ skate didn’t indicate this change, but here’s what Blashill told the diggers:

We’re guessing on the pairs with a straight Smith-for-Marchenko swap here based on how the line rushes in practice were, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see additional shakeups.

Line Combinations

Forwards

Justin Abdelkader Henrik Zetterberg Dylan Larkin
Tomas Tatar Pavel Datsyuk Andreas Athanasiou
Gustav Nyquist Riley Sheahan Teemu Pulkkinen
Darren Helm Luke Glendening Brad Richards

Defensemen

Danny DeKeyser Kyle Quincey
Niklas Kronwall Mike Green
Jonathan Ericsson Brendan Smith

Goaltenders

Petr Mrazek (starting)
Jimmy Howard

Power Play units:

  1. Nyquist-Zetterberg-Pulkkinen, Abdelkader (net front), Kronwall
  2. Tatar-Datsyuk-Helm (net front), Richards, Green

Jets Line Combinations

Forwards

Drew Stafford Mark Scheifele Blake Wheeler
Alex Burmistrov Mathieu Perreault Marko Dano
Chris Thorburn Adam Lowry Scott Kosmachuk
Matt Halischuk Andrew Copp J.C. Lipon

Defensemen

Toby Enstrom Dustin Byfuglien
Jacob Trouba Tyler Myers
Ben Chiarot Paul Postma

Goaltenders

Ondrej Pavelec (starting)
Michael Hutchinson

Key Matchups:

Red Wings offense versus Jets sieves in net

I know what you may be thinking: what Red Wings offense? While the Wings have certainly had trouble getting the biscuit in the basket, the Jets goalies… yikes. Both Pavelec and Hutchinson are sporting less-than-replacement-level numbers (.902 SV%, 2.84 GAA and .904 SV%, 2.99 GAA respectively). Detroit has to exploit the Jets’ biggest weakness.

The return of home ice advantage

The Wings have actually been playing well at home as of late, the last game against Chicago notwithstanding. Losing on the road has been the biggest problem over the last few weeks (eight out of their last ten games on the road have been losses), so a return to the Joe could give them the boost they’re looking for.

Killer instinct

I missed the last three games due to work and life, but what I heard about the two Chicago games was that the Wings held their own and gave themselves a decent chance to win, but collapsed when the Blackhawks scored late. The recent games against the Senators and Stars were sent to extra time because the Wings allowed late goals. The Wings need to get a lead and keep it, or even gasp extend it! Skate to throat, boys, and don’t let up.

Fun Facts!

  • The Red Wings are 11-6-2 (W-L-OTL) all-time in the regular season against the Thrashers/Jets franchise.
  • Last 10 Games: Detroit 3-5-2, Winnipeg 2-6-2
  • Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar each have 5 points in their last five games (both had 2g, 3a); Pavel Datsyuk has 1g and 1a in his last five; Dylan Larkin and Henrik Zetterberg are both on extended pointless streaks.

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