Time: 7:30 PM EST
Place: Little Caesars Arena
TV: FS-Detroit, TSN5
Radio: 97.1 FM The Ticket/1270 AM
Senators Blog: Silver Seven Sens
Detroit return to action at home tonight after completing their California road trip over the weekend ending with the game against San Jose on Saturday. The Wings took 4 of a possible 6 points on the trip and have not lost in regulation in their last five.
The hot hand’s going into this game belong to Tyler Bertuzzi with 2 goals and 4 points on the road trip despite being held without a point in the San Jose game. His linemates Mantha and Larkin picked up 3 and 2 points respectively on the trip. Also breaking out of his slump and showing signs of the 30-goal scorer he was last year, Athanasiou scored twice on Saturday and has 4 in his last 4 games. Athanasiou’s recent production along with newest Red Wing Robby Fabbri’s 6 points in 5 games as a Wing has given the team some scoring support behind the top line.
The Red Wings will welcome Mike Green back to the lineup after he returns following the birth of his daughter. Filip Hronek looks to be close to a return, potentially even tonight, but Blashill seemed hesitant to confirm if he’d be ready for this one. During practice he was working into the line rushes defensively, but didn’t appear to be on a pairing. Joe Hicketts was sent back down to Grand Rapids on Sunday to make room for Green’s return. There doesn’t appear to be any other changes to the lineup.
It’s unknown yet who will start in goal so keep an eye for the Game Day Updates post later today for any updates on Hronek’s status as well as the projected starter in net.
The Wings square off tonight with fellow basement dwellers, the Ottawa Senators. Ottawa comes into tonight off of a loss Buffalo on Saturday. Both the Senators and Red Wings sit at 17 points with only Minnesota trailing them. For those tracking the lottery positions, this is a big one. But compared to their positions in the standings both teams have been performing above expectations of late with the Senators at 4-2 in their last six.
The Senators are led by Jean-Gabriel Pageau who has 11 goals and 15 points so far this season. Other players with double digit point totals for the Sens include Connor Brown (14), Brady Tkachuk (11), Vladislav Namestnikov (12), Anthony Duclair (10), and defensively led by Thomas Chabot (11). Anders Nilsson is the expected starter for Ottawa and has posted an impressive .925 Sv% and 2.76 GAA thus far this season in 10 starts.
