Tonight in Chicago head coach Mike Babcock and the Detroit Red Wings will unveil an all rookie fourth line after Tomas Holmstrom and Darren Helm will be shelved due to groin injuries.
The fourth line will feature Cory Emmerton centering Joakim Andersson and Gustav Nyquist. Babcock will move Justin Abdelkader to the third line replacing Helm with Dan Cleary and Drew Miller.
“The league’s been saying we’re too old for a long time, we’re trying to change it up all in one night,” Babcock said after the morning skate. “I want them to get the puck deep, I want them to forecheck and wear out the Hawks’ D.”
According to Ansar Khan of Mlive.com, Babcock is hoping Nyquist’s call up this time around is better than his appearance on November 1st against Minnesota.
“He wasn’t good at all, he had stage fright,” Babcock said. “He was outstanding in exhibition, he was comfortable when we brought him up, (but) it didn’t go for him. When he was nervous, I was nervous. He didn’t play as good and I didn’t get him out there, so didn’t really get an opportunity.”
Nyquist (who is the Griffins’ leading scorer) knows he has to be better but he also knows what to expect on this current stint…
“I kind of know more what to expect. … It (his first NHL game) was a little different, and obviously I was a little nervous. There was a lot of penalties in that game, it was tough to get into.”
Nyquist might have some extra motivation for tonight’s game as his parents will be in attendance from Sweden for the New Year to see him play. They will also more than likely get another chance on Saturday as Helm will probably still be out of the lineup.
Here are tonight’s line combinations according to Khan…
Franzen-Datsyuk-Bertuzzi
Filppula-Zetterberg-Hudler
Cleary-Abdelkader-Miller
Nyquist-Emmerton-Andersson
Lidstrom-White
Kronwall-Stuart
Ericsson-Commodore
Kindl (healthy scratch)
Howard (starting)
Conklin
For Chicago, Patrick Kane is back at center. Here are the Blackhawks’ anticipated lines:
Dan Carcillo-Jonathan Toews-Marian Hossa
Patrick Sharp-Patrick Kane-Viktor Stalberg
Bryan Bickell-Dave Bolland-Michael Frolik
Andrew Brunette-Jamal Mayers-Jimmy Hayes
Duncan Keith-Brent Seabrook
Niklas Hjalmarsson-Nick Leddy
Sean O’Donnell-Steve Montador
Corey Crawford (starting)
Ray Emery
Ref: Mlive.com, daylife.com (image)
