Gameday Updates
#RedWings optional morning skate at Rogers Place. pic.twitter.com/QKA2VXSC94
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) October 18, 2019
With the optional morning skate, we don’t know if there will be changes to the lines as of the time this article posts. If there are updates later, we’ll update this.
UPDATE:
#RedWings Blashill said Erne is a possibility tonight.
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) October 18, 2019
Detroit’s Darren Helm has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for Slashing Calgary’s Elias Lindholm.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) October 18, 2019
I didn’t get to watch the game last night yet, but I saw the replay of this sequence, and I’m 100% fine with Helm getting a fine for what he did. What I’m 0% fine with is Lindholm not getting anything. – Peter
Lineups
Red Wings
Forwards
Tyler Bertuzzi — Dylan Larkin — Anthony Mantha
Luke Glendening — Frans Nielsen — Andreas Athanasiou
Taro Hirose — Valtteri Filppula — Adam Erne
Darren Helm — Jacob de la Rose — Justin Abdelkader
Defense
Trevor Daley — Filip Hronek
Patrik Nemeth — Mike Green
Dennis Cholowski — Alex Biega
Goalies
Jonathan Bernier (**may play Howard back-to-back**)
Jimmy Howard
Oilers
Forwards
Leon Draisaitl — Connor McDavid — Zack Kassian
Alex Chiasson — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins — James Neal
Jujhar Khaira — Riley Sheahan — Patrick Russell
Tomas Jurco — Markus Granlund — Josh Archibald
Defense
Darnell Nurse — Ethan Bear
Oscar Klefbom — Joel Persson** (concussion protocol)
Kris Russell — Matt Benning
Goalies
Mikko Koskinen
Mike Smith
Keys to the Game
1. Limit the Combo of Draisaitl and McDavid
I say “limit” because “shut down” may be too tall of a task here. The Oilers’ top duo has combined for 32 points through seven games this season — McDavid is already on pace for a whopping 199 points — and if the Wings stand to have any chance in this game it will be limiting their offensive chances. Another player to keep an eye on in this game is James “The Real Deal” Neal as he’s off to a torrid scoring pace, leading the team with eight goals so far.
2. Somebody Else Contribute Offensively
It’s no secret that the BLM line has shouldered much of the scoring load so far this season in Detroit. But, if they’re going to be more successful, then they will need some help…and the expectation can’t be that the Wings’ fourth line is the answer. Blashill talked about shaking things up this week to get AA and Hirose going, but I’ve been adamant that shuffling the top line isn’t the answer. If Filppula or Nielsen can’t chip in with some added help, then the next step might be to call up Michael Rasmussen (five points in three games) from Grand Rapids.
3. Stay out of the Box
Easier said than done, but this is not a power play the Wings want to face too often tonight. The Oilers currently lead the NHL with a 45.5% success rate (next closest is Buffalo at 35.7%) and with their three weapons up front — Draisaitl, McDavid and Neal — it will make for a long night in net for Bernier should they get extra chances on the man advantage.
