The Detroit Red Wings (10-7) play a home game tonight against the Buffalo Sabres (5-8-4). Neither the Red Wings, nor Sabres, are in an Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Where: Little Caesars Arena
When: 7 p.m., ET
TV/Radio: FanDuel Sports Network/97.1 FM
Odds: Detroit (-1.5, +145), Buffalo (+1.5, -175), ESPNBet
Hot: With 18 points in 17 games, Alex DeBrincat is on a pace for his best offensive season of 86 points.
Not: Marco Kasper has registered no points in 14 of his last 15 games. He’s now playing wing on the third line.
Spotlight: Todd McLellan put Axel Sandin Pellikka on the bench in the third period of Thursday’s win. McLellan talked to him about how he needs to play to regain his lost minutes. How will he respond today?
Story: The Red Wings beat the Ducks 6-3 at LCA Friday. That was the third time this season the Red Wings have scored six goals. John Gibson was in net for Detroit that night, but he had to leave the game to be checked out by doctors. He will also start today against the Sabres…The Sabres beat Detroit 4-2 in Buffalo on Oct. 22…Emmitt Finnie has no points in his past eight games. … Captain Dylan Larkin leads the Red Wings with 21 points (10-11-21) in 17 games. He is three points shy of being the 11th player in franchise history to reach the 600-point milestone. He needs 36 points to tie Brendan Shanahan (633) for 10th on Detroit’s all-time points list
Detroit Projected Lines
Alex DeBrincat — Dylan Larkin — Lucas Raymond
Emmitt Finnie — JT Compher — Patrick Kane
Marco Kasper — Nate Danielson– Mason Appleton
Jonatan Berggren– Andrew Copp — Michael Rasmussen
Defense Pairings
Simon Edvinsson — Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot — Axel Sandin-Pellikka
Albert Johansson — Jacob Bernard-Decker
Subs: forward Elmer Soderblom, James van Riemsdyk, Travis Hamonic
Goalies
John Gibson (Cam Talbot backing up).
Buffalo Sabres
Story: Rasmus Dahlin rejoins the team after being away to take care of a family matter…Colton Ellis is expected to start in goal. He beat the Red Wings in Buffalo…The Sabres, last in the Eastern Conference, have lost five in a row and eight of their last nine. Their most recent loss was a 6-3 setback to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday… Bufflo doesn’t have a road win this season (0-5-2). The Sabres have the NHL’s best penalty killing (90.4%). However, their power play ranks 21st (17.3%)… Buffalo ranks 29th with a 3.53 GAA. Injuries: Injured: Jiri Kulich (blood clot), Zach Benson (lower body), Justin Danforth (lower body), Josh Norris (upper body)
Projected Lines
Tage Thompson — Ryan McLeod — Alex Tuch
Jordan Greenway — Tyson Kozak — Josh Doan
Isak Rosen — Noah Ostlund — Jack Quinn
Josh Dunne — Peyton Krebs — Beck Malenstyn
Defense Pairings
Owen Power — Conor Timmins
Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin
Bowen Byram– Michael Kesselring
Goalies
Colton Ellis (Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen Backing Up)
