Detroit Red Wings (17-18-5) vs.
Chicago Blackhawks (26-12-5)
How To Watch/Listen/Read
Puck Drop: 8:30pm
TV: Fox Sports Detroit
Radio: 97.1 The Ticket
Blackhawks SB Nation Blog: Second City Hockey
Detroit enters the Madhouse on Madison losing two out of their last three on this make or break road trip. The highlight has been the continued ascension of Anthony Mantha with 5 goals and 7 points in his past five games. It seems the once ostracized rookie is doing whatever he can to prove he’s more than a spare part. He’s been a top line forward through out this run. Mantha has filled out his role and to this date been the only Red Wing actually displaying top line prowess.
Another young Red Wing coming into tonight’s game with a chip on his shoulder is Andreas Athanasiou. He has 3 goals in the past two games since been a healthy scratch in Anaheim. AA was scratched because of his defensive struggles. The sophomore has thrown the lesson back at Jeff Blashill, playing an electric game with the puck.
These two, along with cruising veteran Thomas Vanek, have been the only recent signs of life in a Red Wings offense that is finding new ways to define ineptitude.
The Blackhawks are somehow still the dynastic Blackhawks despite their fourth salary cap overhaul since winning their first of this run of Stanley Cups in 2010.
Corey Crawford has backstopped a team that hasn’t quite been the possession beast of year’s past but still doing enough to scrap out games with a largely new cast. The recently extended Artemi Panarin has continued his pace from his Calder winning season. Artem Anisomov has provided consistent top six scoring. Filling out the depth of Chicago is the likes of Richard Panik and Ryan Hartman—coming off his first career hat trick Sunday against Nashville. Of course Marian Hossa is still Marian freaking Hossa with 16 goals.
The Blackhawks has maintained a first place team despite missing Jonathan Toews for nine games with a back injury. He’s struggled to score up to his typical ability all season. Annoyingly, this might be their most impressive start yet, considering all the turnover at forward and Toews not quite being himself.
Based on the lines in practice, it appears Mike Green will be back and Justin Abdelkader’s return is also possible. I’ll project them both into the lineup as that was the buzz coming out of practice. We’ll update any changes in the Gameday Update.
Red Wings Projected Lineup Injuries and Scratches
(courtesy of luminary, Ansar Khan of mlive)
Forwards
Nyquist-Zetterberg-Mantha
Athanasiou-Nielsen-Vanek
Tatar-Larkin-Abdelkader
Miller-Sheahan-Glendening
Defense
DeKeyser-Green
Ericsson-Marchenko
Ouellet-Sproul
Power Play (is it even worth it?)
Unit 1- Nyquist-Zetterberg-Nielsen-Vanek (net-front)-Green
Unit 2- Larkin-Athanasiou-Mantha-Abdelkader (net-front)-Sproul
Starter
Mrazek
Injuries and Scratches
Smith (knee), Kronwall (lower body), Helm (shoulder), Howard (lower body), Ott, Jurco, Jensen, Coreau (back up)
Blackhawks Projected Lineup, Injuries and Scratches
(Courtesy of Daily Faceoff)
Forwards
Vince Hinostroza-Jonathan Toews-Marian Hossa
Artemi Panarin-Artemi Anisomov-Patrick Kane
Ryan Hartman-Tanner Kero-Richard Panik
Andrew Desjardins-Dennis Rasmussen-Jordin Tootoo
Defense
Duncan Keith-Nik Hjalmarsson
Michael Kempny-Brent Seabrook
Brian Campbell-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Starter
Corey Crawford
Injuries and Scratches
Marcus Kruger (upper body), Scott Darling (back up)
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Game Day Prediction Contest
Would you like to predict the outcome of the game and potentially become internet famous? Well you’re in luck, because here’s your opportunity. Here’s how it works.
Make your game predictions on the winning team, final score, and who the Wings player of the game will be. Enter the required information into the form below using the formats indicated in the questions. If you don’t use those formats, your answers will be disregarded. All submissions are timestamped and will be accepted only until the official game start time. All other submissions after that will be disregarded. Only one submission per person, please. POTG will be determined by the collective of WiiM writers.
Each correct winning team prediction is worth 1 point. Each correct player of the game prediction is worth 2 points. Each correct final score prediction is worth 5 points. If you get all three correct you’ll receive 15 points.
