WING THINGS
The Red Wings earned a big two points last night against the Canadiens after Gustav Nyquist potted his 15th of the year in the last minute of overtime. The win pulled the Wings another two points ahead of the three eastern conference teams (Columbus, Ottawa, Washington) breathing down their neck for the last wild card spot in the east.
The game was also a return to the lineup for Johan Franzen and Todd Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi has been a healthy scratch for the last eight games and aside from one game at the end of January, Franzen has been out since mid-December. Bert and the Mule connected to put the Wings ahead early in the first and Franzen found the score sheet a second time on Nyquist’s game winning overtime goal. Mike Babcock admitted the top line (Bertuzzi - Datsyuk - Franzen) might be a little rusty, (the three combine for only 15 games in 2014 - and ten of those are Bertuzzi’s) but there isn’t anywhere to go but up for that line.
While the two points the Wings picked up were big, giving up the extra point to the Habs, who now sit five point ahead of the Wings could add to the story of single points left on the table. Had the Wings been able to hold the Habs off for just 29 more seconds, they would only need two wins to make up the ground between them and the third place Canadiens. Just like the 12 potential points lost in overtime or shootouts so far this season, those single points add up and in a tight race, it could be the difference between holding a hockey stick or a golf club in May.
Tonight’s game against Ottawa is every bit as big as last night’s game against Montreal. The Sens are 5-3-2 over their last ten games but tonight will be their first contest after the Olympic break.
The game will also be the second game in Ottawa for Daniel Alfredsson. The former Sen’s captain faced a mountain of media pressure in December when he returned to Canada’s Capital for the first time since leaving for Motor City. This time around should be a little closer to business as usual for Alfie but expect a little extra noise (one way or the other) when number 11 has the puck.
PROJECTED LINES (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
RED WINGS
Franzen - Datsyuk - Bertuzzi Abdelkader - Helm - Alfredsson Tatar - Sheahan - Jurco Miller - Andersson - Nyquist
Kronwall - Ericsson Quincey - DeKeyser Smith - Lashoff
Jonas Gustavsson Jimmy Howard
Injuries: Weiss, Kindl, Zetterberg
SENATORS
Greening - Spezza - Michalek MacArthur - Turris - Condra Hoffman - Zibanejad - Ryan Conacher - Smith - Neil
Methot - Karlsson Cowen - Wiercioch Phillips - Ceci
Robin Lehner Andrew Hammond
Injuries: Mark Stone