The Wings will get the services of defenseman Ruslan Salei back tonight when they take on the Florida Panthers tonight at 7:30PM ET from the BankAtlantic Arena.
Salei met up with the team in South Florida after spending time with his wife who is expecting a child in March and his kids.
“I spent a good couple of days with family, it was really ice of (Red Wings) to let me do that,” Salei said.
Salei also says that the time off won’t affect him even though he hasn’t skated since Sunday.
“Rusty” said he shouldn’t feel rusty tonight, despite not skating since Sunday’s game against Boston.
“I haven’t skated, but I feel good,” Salei said. “Re-energized, well-rested, should be ready.”
Salei will replace Jakub Kindl tonight while Joey MacDonald will start in place of Jimmy Howard who faced 40 shots in last nights 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Here is tonight’s lineup according to Ansar Khan of Mlive.com.
Franzen-Zetterberg-Bertuzzi
Hudler-Datsyuk-Cleary
Draper-Helm-Eaves
Miller-Abdelkader-Holmstrom
Lidstrom-Stuart
Ericsson-Rafalski
Salei-Kronwall
MacDonald (starting)
Howard
Here is the anticipated lineup for the Panthers:
Cory Stillman-Stephen Weiss-Jack Skille
David Booth-Mike Santorelli-Radek Dvorak
Chris Higgins-Marty Reasoner-Rostislav Olesz
Darcy Hordichuk-Scott Timmins-Steve Bernier
Jason Garrison-Mike Weaver
Keaton Ellerby-Dennis Wideman
Bryan Allen-Joe Callahan
Tomas Vokoun
Scott Clemmensen
The Panthers (24-25-7) are 3-5-5 in their last 13 games. They are seven points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference but have two games in hand on No. 8 Carolina.
Florida ranks 3rd in the NHL in penalty killing but 29th on the power play.
Source: Mlive.com
