Red Wings complete surprising roster move with Vladimir Tarasenko ahead of game vs Senators
Photo credit: NHL Trade Talk
The Detroit Red Wings won't have Elmer Soderblom for tonight's critical matchup against the divisional foe Senators, and they've elevated the underperforming Vladimir Tarasenko to the top line.
The Detroit Red Wings are back on home ice tonight for a matchup of utmost importance against the divisional foe Ottawa Senators (7:00 PM, FanDuel Sports Detroit, 97.1 The Ticket).
The Senators have leapfrogged the Red Wings in the standings with 79 points; the Red Wings have just 72 and time is running out with only 11 games left.
Because the Red Wings are shorthanded tonight thanks to the injuries to Elmer Soderblom and Petr Mrazek, they've shifted their line combinations around.
Per Ansar Khan, the underperforming Vladimir Tarasenko has been moved to the top line alongside Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond:
Tarasenko-Larkin-Raymond
DeBrincat-Kasper-Kane
Rasmussen-Compher-Smith
Watson-Motte-Shine/Berggren
Soderblom is out with an injury.
Chiarot-Seider
Edvinsson-Holl
Johansson-Petry/Lagesson
DeBrincat-Kasper-Kane
Rasmussen-Compher-Smith
Watson-Motte-Shine/Berggren
Soderblom is out with an injury.
Chiarot-Seider
Edvinsson-Holl
Johansson-Petry/Lagesson
Tarasenko has been a disappointment in his 1st year with Detroit, scoring only 29 points (9G, 20A) in 69 games. Last year, he had 23 goals in 76 games split between the Senators and Florida Panthers, helping the latter win the Stanley Cup in June.
The Red Wings earned a pair of 7-game winning streaks under Todd McLellan - can they do it again?
It goes without saying that the Detroit Red Wings must start stacking wins together in the same way that they did immediately after coach Todd McLellan arrived back in town on December 26.
Following his hire, the team rattled off a pair of 7-game winning streaks to put themselves right back in the Wild Card chase; at this time last month, the Red Wings had a firm grip on the first WC position.
But they've since lost 10 of 13 games in a brutal stretch eerily reminiscent of their 7-game slide last year that effectively destroyed their chances at a playoff spot.
Their fate was determined on the final day of the year; they missed the playoffs by a single point due to a tiebreaker with the Washington Capitals.
And in a twist of fate, a number of summer re-tooling moves by Washington management has resulted in their being in 1st place in the Eastern Conference this year.
Red Wings fans can't be blamed for wondering when it will be their turn to take a considerable leap forward - especially considering that Steve Yzerman is set to enter his 7th full year on the job as Red Wings GM in the fall.
| POLL | ||
MARS 27 | 123 ANSWERS Red Wings complete surprising roster move with Vladimir Tarasenko ahead of game vs Senators Is this Vladimir Tarasenko's last chance to show he can be an effective NHL player with the Red Wings? | ||
| Yes, this is his last opportunity | 101 | 82.1 % |
| No, he'll be back next year regardless | 22 | 17.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
