Morning Skate: Wings vs Blackhawks
7:30p ET, Joe Louis Arena
Detroit, MI
TV: Fox Sports Detroit
Radio: 97.1 The Ticket
Blackhawks Blogs: Second City Hockey
We all know this team. It's arguably one of the biggest rivalries in this sport, and even though we only see them twice a year now, it will likely end that way. Chicago is coming into tonight off of a big win against Tampa Bay.. The team Detroit could not put down.
Plain & simple, this is going to be a pretty intense game, as they always are. Pavel Datsyuk will decide if he plays after the morning skate, if he does he will be centering a line with Tomas Jurco and Justin Abdelkader. I expect good things from that line.
Special teams? Well, both teams are spectacular on the PK, but pretty mediocre on the PP. Chicago has two short-handed goals so far this season, and given the way the Wings PP has given up the puck before, that could be troublesome. If you want to take this Blackhawks team down, you have to score on the man-advantage. There's no hiding that Jonathan Toews is scared of Henrik Zetterberg. Must be the ability to grow a beard, or something. Go get 'em. Eat it up. Get hungry, boys.
PS- Tonight, Anthony Mantha makes his pro debut in Grand Rapids. HELL YEAH
The Expected Lineups
Forwards
| Gustav Nyquist | Henrik Zetterberg | Johan Franzen |
| Tomas Jurco | Pavel Datsyuk | Justin Abdelkader |
| Tomas Tatar | Riley Sheahan | Darren Helm |
| Drew Miller | Luke Glendening | Joakim Andersson |
Defensemen
| Niklas Kronwall | Jonathan Ericsson |
| Kyle Quincey | Danny DeKeyser |
| Jakub Kindl | Brendan Smith |
Goaltenders
| Jimmy Howard (starting) |
| Petr Mrazek |
Scratches: Daniel Cleary, & Brian Lashoff
Injuries: Stephen Weiss (groin)
Forwards
| Kris Versteeg | Jonathan Toews | Patrick Kane |
| Brian Bickell | Brad Richards | Brandon Saad |
| Ben Smith | Marcus Kruger | Marian Hossa |
| Peter Regin | Andrew Shaw | Jeremy Morin |
Defensemen
| Duncan Keith | Brent Seabrook |
| Niklas Hjalmarsson | Johnny Oduya |
| Trevor van Riemsdyk | Michal Rozsival |
Goaltenders
| Corey Crawford (starting) |
| Evgeni Nabokov |
Opponent Outlook
Player to Fear: Patrick Kane. We know the story here. He's one of the most dangerous players in the NHL when he has the puck. If this game goes to a shootout then he will likely be the only one to score because of course.
X-Factor: Jonathan Toews. He's one of the best two-way centers in the game. No doubt, whoever gets matched up with him is going to have their hands full.
Familiar Faces: Marian Hossa. :(
- The Red Wings are 402-322-84 all-time in the regular season against the Chicago Blackhawls
- Both teams come into tonight hold the two best penalty killing units in the entire NHL. CHI (91.7%) DET (88.7%)
- Chicago has the lowest Goals Allowed Average in the NHL at 1.88... So bring the noise, Detroit./