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Of the Categories listed on the pregame for NHL.com, Ottawa is only beating Detroit in Faceoffs at 51% to 49%. Detroit’s power pay and PK are 12th and 13th in the league with 23% and 81% respectively compared to Ottawa at 16% and 74% (23rd and 28th respectively). Goals for favor Detroit 3.51 (5th) to 3.35 (11th) and goals against for the Wings are 3.22 (22nd) compared to 3.65 (30th). The stats indicate that this could be a high scoring affair.
In all 3 games one team has scored 5. Wings one the first 5-2, Ottawa won the second in OT 5-4, the Ottawa won 5-1. So, Detroit can (with a regulation win) grab 5 of 8 points tonight. If Lyon is in net, Detroit will have to keep control as Joseph and Tkachuk do their level best to interfere and in Joseph’s case flat out injure Larkin.
Larkin and Joseph have been oil and water. Before this season, Larkin was suspended for retribution on a boarding call where he turned and punched Joseph (not acceptable). This year, Joseph knocked Larkin unconscious. Unless the score is tilted far in Detroit’s favor, the points matter a lot more than settling the tab on that last shot.
With the last change available, it would be in LaLonde’s best interest to keep Larkin off the ice if Joseph is lining up. This has to be a game when Detroit plays it cool and gives themselves a chance to grab two points. Ottawa is in the midst of a potential sell off as ownership questions the core. Calgary is making similar decisions right now. Sens players who want to stay and be part of the growth are going to play hard.
On a final note, Debrincat will skate in his 500th game tonight. It hardly seems possible but time has flown by. Hopefully it will be a good one that ends in earning one of the three stars tonight.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments. How do you keep things from escalating against a team that seems to want to throw players off their game by escalating tensions. Perron can’t go charging in after that last suspension (hitting the wrong player as well). Let’s hope Detroit enters the break with 2 more points as this season series comes to a welcome end.