The Detroit Red Wings (12-8-1) play at home today for matinee game against the Columbus Blue Jackets (11-8-2). Detroit is in second place in the Atlantic Division, while Columbus is below the wildcard line in the Eastern Conference.
Where: Little Caesars Arena
When: 1 p.m., ET
TV/Radio: FanDuel Sports Network/97.1 FM
Odds: New York Islanders (+1.5, -235), Detroit (-1.5, +180), ESPNBet
Hot: Goalie Cam Talbot has won five of his last six decisions, giving up just 13 goals in those games.
Not: Andrew Copp has just one goal in 21 goals this season. He does have 10 shots on goal in his last three games.
Spotlight: McLellan is putting Alex DeBrincat back on Patrick Kane’s line. Kane only has one goal in his past eight games.
Story: Coach Todd McLellan may be contemplating scratching slumping forward Marco Kasper (no points in his last 10 games) today. Friday’s line combinations in practice didn’t include a true place for Kasper. We won’t know until warm-ups today…McLellan was also non-committal about today’s starting goalie … The Red Wings didn’t play well in their last outing, a 5-0 shutout loss to the New York Islanders. The Red Wings have been outscored 12-2 in two losses to the New York team this season. …The Boston Bruins have moved ahead of Detroit for first place in the Atlantic Division based on total points won. But the Bruins have played two more games than Detroit. The Red Wings actually have the better points percentage (.595)… The Red Wings now rank 25th in scoring (2.86 goals per game.). They are 22nd in goals surrendered (3.19 per game)… Injured: Elmer Soderblom (day-to-day)
Detroit Projected Lines
Emmitt Finnie — Dylan Larkin — Lucas Raymond
Alex DeBrincat — JT Compher — Patrick Kane
Jonatan Berggren — Nate Danielson– Mason Appleton
Michael Rasmussen or Kasper– Andrew Copp — James van Riemsdyk
Defense Pairings
Simon Edvinsson — Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot — Axel Sandin-Pellikka
Albert Johansson — Travis Hamonic
Subs: forward Jonatan Berggren, defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker
Goalies
John Gibson (Cam Talbot backing up).
Columbus Blue Jackets
Story: Jet Greaves is 4-0-1 in his last five starts with a .926 save percentage … Defenseman Zach Werenski’s three assists on Thursday at Toronto moved him into second place in points in Columbus history with 403, moving past Cam Atkinson (402). He has a five-game point streak (2-6-8) and is tied for third among NHL defensemen in goals (six). He is second among NHL defenseman with 26:47 of average ice time in a game… Injuries: Erik Gudbranson (hip), Boone Jenner (upper body)
Projected Lines
Blue Jackets projected lineup
Miles Wood — Sean Monahan — Kent Johnson
Dmitri Voronkov — Adam Fantilli — Kirill Marchenko
Cole Sillinger — Charlie Coyle — Mathieu Olivier
Yegor Chinakhov — Zach Aston-Reese — Isac Lundestrom
Defense Pairings
Zach Werenski — Ivan Provorov
Denton Mateychuk — Damon Severson
Jake Christiansen — Dante Fabbro
Goalies
Jet Greaves (Elvis Merzlikins backing up) Unconfirmed
Scratched:Dysin Mayo, Brendan Gaunce
I
