Red Wings vs. Ducks: Notes, Lines, Goalies, How to Watch

The NHL is back in full swing, and the Red Wings are no exception. After two full weeks off, they play two games in just over 24 hours, including tonight’s contest against the Anaheim Ducks.

Both are playing back-to-backs. The Red Wings lost in overtime to Minnesota 4-3 on Saturday while the Ducks beat Boston in overtime 3-2.

So fatigue might be a factor, but this is professional hockey, and that’s not going to be an excuse for losing.

Both teams have players whose presence might be iffy due to injury, Detroit’s Andrew Copp  was hurt in Saturday’s loss to the Wild. Anaheim goalie John Gibson had to leave the Ducks’ game with Boston  for the same reason on Saturday.

Despite the overtime loss, the Red Wings are still in the playoff hunt. They moved into seventh place in the Eastern Conference last night after Ottawa lost at home to Montreal, creating a three-way tie with the Senators and Columbus in the East. Anaheim is in 10th place in the West.

As the conference races continue to bubble, there’s some attention being diverted to the trade deadline next month.

Vladimir Tarasenko,  a disappointment this season in Detroit, could be on the way out, while there’s talk the Wings might be in on four players going into the March 7 deadline, just 12 dys away. One of them is Anaheim forward Trevor Zegras.

At this point, it’s all speculation, and while the trade market is always interesting, it’s much better when the Wings have more to contemplate than a roster shakeup, which has been the case for far too long,

The Matchup

Who: Red Wings vs. Ducks

Where: Little Caesars Arena

When: 6 p.m.

TV/Radio: ABC/97.1 FM

Detroit Projected Lines

Kasper – Larkin – Raymond

DeBrincat – Copp /Motte– Tarasenko

Soderblom – Rasmussen – Kane

Compher– Veleno – Berggren

Defensive Pairings

Chiarot – Seider

Edvinsson –Johansson

Gustafsson – Holl/Lagesson

Goalies

Lyon-Talbot

Anaheim Projected Lines

Zegras – Crlsson – Lorn

Vatrano – Strome – Terry

Gauthier – McTavish – Fabbri

Johnston – Lundestrom – Leason

Defensive Pairings

Lacomb – Gudas

Zellwager – Trouba

Dumoulin – Helleson

Goalies

Dostal – Gibson