Detroit Red Wings
Bruins at Red Wings: Notes, Lines, Goalies, How to Watch
The Detroit Red Wings (13-11-2) play a home game today against the Boston Bruins (15-12-0). The Bruins are in second place in the Atlantic Division, and the Red Wings are three points out of a playoff spot.
Where: Little Caesars Arena
When: 7 p.m., ET
TV/Radio: FanDuel Sports Network/97.1 FM
Odds: Boston (+1.5, -162), Detroit (-1.5, +136), DraftKings
Hot: Dylan Larkin has at least one point in 20 out of 26 games this season. He has had the goal, or the assist, on 37.6% of Detroit’s 77 goals this season.
Not: Marco Kasper has incredibly played 26 games — that’s almost a third of a season — without registering an assist. Kasper put up 37 points (including 18 assists) in his rookie season.
Spotlight: Patrick Kane, hoping to make the U.S. Olympic team, has nine points (one goal) in his last 10 games. He has 14 points in 17 games on the season.
Story: John Gibson will get the start in goal for Detroit …The Red Wings are coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to the Bruins…Coach Todd McLellan’s team has lost four in a row and five of the last six. Detroit has surrendered 24 goals in those five losses. It has given up four or more goals 12 times in 26 games …The Red Wings’ power play (21.2%) ranks 13th, and their penalty kill (78.9%) is 23rd. Injuries: Mason Appleton (lower-body injury) won’t play today. He’s expected to be out of the lineup for 7-10 days.
Detroit Projected Lines
Emmitt Finnie — Dylan Larkin — Lucas Raymond
Alex DeBrincat — Andrew Copp — Patrick Kane
Marco Kasper — Nate Danielson — Elmer Soderblom
Nate Danielson — JT Compher — James van Riemsdyk
Defense Pairings
Simon Edvinssson — Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot — Axel Sandin-Pellikka
Albert Johansson — Travis Hamonic
Subs: Jonatan Berggren, Jacob Bernard-Docker
Goalies
John Gibson (Cam Talbot backing up)
Boston Bruins
Story: The Bruins are 6-7 on the road this season… Jeremy Swayman seems like a likely starter tonight. The Bruins have the league’s fourth-best power play (25.3%)… David Pastrnak (day-to-day) hasn’t played the Bruins last two games, including Saturday against the Red Wings. He’s not on the road trip. Injured: Charlie McAvoy (upper body), Jordan Harris (ankle surgery), Matej Blumel (lower body), Pastrnak (unknown)
Projected Lines
Alex Steeves — Elias Lindholm — Morgan Geekie
Casey Mittlestadt — Pavel Zacha – Victor Arvidsson
Tanner Jeannot — Fraser Minten — Mark Kastelic
Marat Khusnutdinov — Sean Kuraly — Michael Eyssimont
Defense Pairings
Hampus Lindholm — Andrew Peeke
Michael Callahan — Nikita Zadorov
Jonathan Aspirot — Mason Lohrei
Goalies
Jeremy Swayman (Joonas Korpisalo backing up) Unconfirmed
Alex DeBrincat — Andrew Copp — Patrick Kane
Copp (or Compher) centering Kane and Cat is a recipe for failure. And I can only imagine how frustrated Kane must be with those two options. I’ll give Copp credit for busting his ass lately, and the same for Compher (to a lesser degree), but neither of these guys have the hands or the “vision” (hockey sense) to see things unfold and get ahead of a play.
Kasper has been a mess this year. He doesn’t seem to be playing instinctively the way he did last year. He looks like he’s just not sure what he wants to do out there in any given situation.
I don’t know why the Toddfather hasn’t at least tried Finnie between Kane and Cat. After all, I’ve suggested it a number of times. It’s like the guy’s not even paying any attention to my suggestions. 🙂
If Hamonic is in the lineup, just call it a loss