WING THINGS
The Wings are looking to snap a five game winless streak (0-3-2) at The Joe tonight against the Anaheim Ducks. The Wings are struggling at home this season. While their road record is the best in the Atlantic Division (10-3-3) their record at home (5-8-6) is the second worst in the division.
In the midst of massive injury problems, the Wings are having difficulty scoring. Over the last five games, Detroit has only managed to average one goal a game and have been outscored 7-1 in the third period over that time. With much of the offensive firepower watching from the press box, the Wings will need scoring any way they can get it.
The list of injured Wings is growing steadily. Gustav Nyquist will join that list tonight, as he’s listed as day-to-day with a groin injury. In addition to Nyquist, the wings are missing Henrik Zetterberg, Darren Helm, Johan Franzen, Danny DeKeyser, Stephen Weiss, Jimmy Howard, and Justin Abdelkader.
Of the injured players, Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader are likely to be the first to return to the lineup, hopefully in time for Saturday’s game against the Maple Leafs. Franzen is likely next to return, and Zetterberg, DeKeyser, and Howard are all expected to return before the new year, but after the Christmas break.
Riley Sheahan has been recalled from Grand Rapids and will center the third line with Mikael Samuelsson and Todd Bertuzzi. Three of four Red Wings forward lines tonight will feature players who have played the majority of the season so far in Grand Rapids.
TONIGHT’S GAME
The Ducks come to The Joe tonight with the second best record the west (23-7-5) and riding a five game winning streak. The first line of Dustin Penner, Ryan Getzlaf, and Corey Perry is off to an incredible start. Both Getzlaf and Perry are averaging more than a point per game. The Ducks have not lost a game in regulation on home ice this year.
If there is a chink in the Ducks armor, it is their play on the road. The Ducks special teams away from home is pedestrian at best. They have a powerplay percentage of just 13.6% and a penalty kill percentage of 76.1%. Despite the poor powerplay and penalty kill numbers, however, the Ducks still have the third best road record in the Western Conference.
PROJECTED LINES (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
RED WINGS
Jurco – Datsyuk – Alfredsson Miller – Andersson – Tatar Bertuzzi – Sheahan – Samuelsson Cleary – Glendenning – Eaves
Kronwall – Ericsson Quincey – Smith Kindl – Lashoff
Jonas Gustavsson (starting) Petr Mrazek
Injuries: Zetterberg, Helm, Dekeyser, Weiss, Howard, Nyquist, Franzen, Abdelkader
DUCKS
Penner – Getzlaf – Perry Silfverberg – Perreault – Selanne Palmieri – Koivu – Cogliano Beleskey – Bonino – Winnik
Fowler – Lovejoy Beauchemin – Lindholm Vatanen – Allen
Jonas Hiller (starting) Frederik Andersen