Red Wings vs Predators: GDU, Lineups, Keys to the Game

Joshua Pickering

• 2 min read Front Page

Game Day Updates

[Ed Note:  DeKeyser is just back from COVID protocol and there are likely doubts around for people being able to go.  Witkowski is likely the first man in if somebody has to drop out last-minute.  Also important to note that Witkowski’s ongoing two-game AHL suspension does not affect his eligibility to play in the NHL.]

Lineups

Detroit

Forwards
Robby Fabbri - Dylan Larkin - Lucas Raymond
Joe Veleno - Pius Suter - Filip Zadina
Vladislav Namestnikov - Michael Rasmussen - Adam Erne
Givani Smith - Carter Rowney - Sam Gagner

Defense
Danny DeKeyser - Moritz Seider
Nick Leddy - Filip Hronek
Daniel Renouf - Jordan Oesterle

Goalies
Thomas Greiss
Alex Nedeljkovic

Nashville

Forwards
Filip Forsberg - Mikael Granlund - Matt Duchene
Eeli Tolvanen - Ryan Johansen - Luke Kunin
Yakov Trenin - Colton Sissons - Tanner Jeannot
Nick Cousins - Thomas Novak - Philip Tomasino
Defense
Roman Josi - Dante Fabbro
Mattias Ekholm - Alexandre Carrier
Mark Borowiecki - Matt Benning
Goalies
Juuse Saros
David Rittich

Keys to the Game

1. Shut the Top Line Down

Just as Detroit is very often reliant on their top line to win them games, Nashville is also guilty of this. The Red Wings will need to key in on the trio of Forsberg, Granlund, and Duchene who are having stellar campaigns so far. If they can limit the damage from this line to a goal or less it would go a long way to winning this game. There are other players who can be a threat like Johansen but this team’s success is largely driven by those top three.

2.  Get Greasy Goals Against Saros

Saros has been steadily climbing the goalie ranks as he gradually took over for Pekka Rinne towards the end of his career in Nashville. Saros is very consistent and won’t be easily beaten on shots he can see. Nashville’s defense won’t give up the easy cross slot passes and breakaways either. So Detroit will need to get traffic in front of Saros to stop him from getting clean looks on the initial shots, allowing for better chances of rebounds when he does stop the first shot. Second and third chances in the crease area is what will get the Wings another W.

3. The Drive for Six

It’s been a long time since Detroit was last able to win six games in a row. To be exact, it was towards the end of the 2018-19 season 3 years ago. This could be among the highlights of the season for the team when all is said and done so they need to keep the magic going for as long as they can. This team is still in the midst of a rebuild so these runs are hard to come by. Nashville is a capable, but beatable opponent, and making it six in a row against an old division rival could get the LCA as rocking as it’s ever been.