Red Wings vs. Ottawa: What to Know

Game Facts

Who: Red Wings vs. Ottawa

Where: Little Caesars Arena

When: 7 p.m.

TV/Radio: Bally Sports/97.1 FM

Records: Red Wings 14-7-4, Ottawa 10-11-0.

What to Know

For the second game in a row, the Red Wings are taking on a team that is in last place in its division. As we learned on Thursday, that doesn’t guarantee anything, especially when you blow a four-goal lead. Besides, there’s a level of bitterness in this rivalry that the San Jose Sharks and Red Wings lost when Detroit moved to the Eastern Conference 10 years ago. It’s the third game in as many cities for the teams, who played their first two games in Ottawa and Stockholm….

Meanwhile, Detroit is in a bit of a rut, having blown big leads in its last three games. “We come back from Europe (and) have a five-game stretch where we give up seven goals,” coach Derek Lalonde said Friday. “And then we’ve given up 13 in the last three. It’s what winning looks like. You got to tighten things up. A little urgency to your game. It was coming a little to a head and (Thursday) night kind of bit us.” …

Alex Lyon will be back in net tonight for Detroit. He’s 4-1 so far this season after sitting out the first 16 games. On the subject of goalies, the Red Wings also will honor Mike Vernon before the game. He recently was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. …

The teams have gone in different directions since their journey to Sweden last month. The Red Wings, who were 0-1-1 overseas, are 6-1-1 since returning, while the Senators have lost six of eight. Both teams are strong on offense. The Red Wings are averaging 3.84 goals per game, which is second in the NHL. Ottawa is sixth at 3.43. The Senators are allowing 3.29 goals per game. …

The Wings are back in third place in the Atlantic Division, two points behind Florida.