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

The Detroit Red Wings play their home opener tonight against the Montreal Canadiens (0-1-0)

Where: Little Caesars Arena

When: 7 p.m.

TV/Radio: FanDuel Sports Network/97.1 FM

Hot: The Red Wings’ decision to promote prospects Axel Sandin Pellikka, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and speedy Emmitt Finnie has created excitement among Detroit’s fans. Finnie is expected to play with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, while Sandin Pellikka will see power play time as a point man. Brandsegg-Nygard has a wicked shot and plays a physical game.

Not: Veteran JT Compher.  He’s coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, and the team needs more from him to have an improved chance of making the playoffs.

Spotlight: John Gibson was brought in to bring more consistency to the Detroit goaltending. His career save percentage is .910. If he can be near that number this season, he could be the difference between the Red Wings qualifying for the playoffs or extending their drought.

Absence: James van Riemsdyk is not expected to play. He is still trying to make himself NHL ready after starting training camp late because of family issues.

Story: The Red Wings are trying to avoid missing the playoffs for a 10th consecutive season…Patrick Kane starts the season needing 32 points to pass Mike Modano to become the all-time leading points producer for players born in the United States. He needs eight goals for 500…Erik Gustafsson has cleared waivers and can be sent to Grand Rapids when van Riemsdyk is activated.  The Red Wings have eight defensemen.

Detroit Projected Lines

Finnie – Larkin – Raymond

DeBrincat – Kasper – Kane

Copp – Compher – Brandsegg-Nygard

Soderblom– Rasmussen – Appleton

Defensive Pairings

Chiarot – Seider

Edvinsson –Sandin Pellikka

Johansson-Hamonic

Goalie

Gibson (Cam Talbot is the backup)

Montreal

Story: Montreal lost 5-2 to Toronto Monday night. Montreal’s top line of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky was -3 in that game. Sam Montembeault was in net, giving up three goals on 22 shots. Jakub Dobes should start tonight. The Canadiens’ mission is to make the playoffs for a second consecutive season… The Habs have two of the NHL’s more exciting young players in puck-moving defenseman Lane Hutson and forward Ivan Demidov…

 Projected Lines

Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky
Newhook-Kapanen-Demidov
Bolduc-Dach-Gallagher
Laine-Evans-Anderson

Matheson-Dobson
Guhle-Hutson
Xhekaj-Carrier

Dobes (Montembeault backing up)