Game Day Updates
Red Wings on for morning skate here at Bell Centre. pic.twitter.com/pC7FpqxIM5
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) March 12, 2019
#RedWings Blashill said Bernier starting.
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) March 12, 2019
#RedWings Blashill said Larkin has a soft tissue injury that should not impact him long-term but until he is pain-free and has full range of motion, he won’t play.
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) March 12, 2019
Brett Kulak IN, Mike Reilly OUT, Tomas Tatar IN vs Detroit @CanadiensMTL @TVASports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) March 12, 2019
Key Matchups
1. Offense? Defense? Goaltending? Bueller?
That’s right, I’m going as basic as the Red Wings Twitter account’s “Three Keys to the Game.” Somebody needs to step up on this team. Whether it’s a line, on the blue line or in goal, SOMEBODY needs to spark this team. They all look deflated and disinterested, and tank or no tank, I am appalled by it. I’m team tank the whole way, but I don’t want this team giving up like it seems like they’re doing. Larkin or not, someone needs to grab the team by their necks and get everyone to step up because the product on the ice the last 16 games has been nothing short of a joke. Some group, some where, needs to step up tonight if they want to win and actually make themselves look like a hockey team.
2. Weber/Mete vs. Red Wings
Shea Weber has been nothing short of amazing since coming back from injury. He’s +11 with 27 points in 45 games since his return, and has really helped sure up the Canadiens blue line. Pair him with young prospect, Victor Mete, and you have one of the better defensive pairs in hockey. Mete is just 20-years-old and was a 4th round pick back in 2016, but has 11 points and is +12 in 58 GP this year. These two have really boosted the Habs blue line, and with the Red Wings offense struggling, look for another lockdown show from these two tonight.
3. The 3rd Lines
Pretty much everyone on the Red Wings without Larkin is a 3rd or 4th liner, which means this should be a matchup they should win vs. the Canadiens. As of now, the projected 3rd line for Montreal is Drouin, Kotkaniemi and Armia, who have combined 99 points on the year. That is a strong 3rd line no matter the team, and if the Red Wings allow them to beat them on top of the Domi, Tatar and Gallagher’s of the world, it will be a long night for Detroit once again. They need LGD, Helm Nielsen, Vanek, etc. to step up and pitch in defensively to keep the Canadiens 3rd line in check.
