On top of trying to end a three game losing streak, the Wings are also trying to turn around their record at home. According to Ansar Khan of Mlive.com the Wings are 7-9-2 at the Joe over the last three months. Khan says this is puzzling since they started the season 10-1-2 at home.
“I still think everybody likes playing at home better than playing on the road,” coach Mike Babcock said. “Matchup-wise, it should help you; rest-wise, it should help you; being comfortable at home with your own fans.
“It’s a priority to finish as high as we can because we think it helps us at home and yet I think we might have the best record in the NHL on the road.”
Injury wise the Wings have been getting healthy over the past few weeks with Brad Stuart, Pavel Datsyuk and Mike Modano returning to the lineup.
They do however still have some players out.
Here are some updates on those players that are still sidelined with injury.
- Forward Patrick Eaves who has been dealing with a groin injury will most likely not return to the lineup until next week. “I’m doing better than I was yesterday, skating with full gear,” Eaves said. “Just trying to string a bunch of good days together. I’m hoping to at least get out there at the beginning of practice (Thursday) and snap it around with the guys.”
- Veteran defenseman Brian Rafalski who’s been sidelined with back spasms skated this morning however will not play tonight. He may return Friday night against Edmonton but that will be determined after Thursday’s practice. “I was able to do starts and stops today, it’s a positive,” Rafalski said. “Cautiously optimistic and keep building on it every day. An extra day or two before I come back is better than a week or two down the road.”
- Goaltender Chris Osgood may make his return Saturday against his former team the St. Louis Blues. According to Khan, if he doesn’t return Saturday, Osgood is confident that he would return next week on Thursday in Columbus. That would be the second game of back to back games. They play Washington at the Joe on Wednesday. “Everything’s as planned. Maybe for Saturday, if I feel real good,” Osgood said. “If not, I’ll be back for sure next week. I’ll know tomorrow after practice.”
Here are tonight’s anticipated lineups according to Khan…
Detroit Red Wings
Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Cleary
Franzen-Filppula-Bertuzzi
Abdelkader-Modano-Holmstrom
Hudler-Helm-Draper
Miller (scratched tonight)
Lidstrom-Stuart
Ericsson-Kronwall
Kindl-Salei
Howard (starting)
MacDonald
Los Angeles Kings
Dustin Penner-Anze Kopitar-Justin Williams
Ryan Smyth-Jarret Stoll-Dustin Brown
Alexei Ponikarovsky-Michal Handzus-Wayne Simmonds
Kyle Clifford-Trevor Lewis-Kevin Westgarth
Drew Doughty-Willie Mitchell
Jack Johnson-Rob Scuderi
Alec Martinez-Matt Greene
Jonathan Quick
Jonathan Bernier
Source: Mlive.com
