The Detroit Red Wings are back on home ice after returning from a 4-game road trip that didn't quite go as expected.
They picked up only three of a possible eight points on the trip, which included back to back losses against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars.
Returning to Little Caesars Arena, the Red Wings now face the divisional foe Montreal Canadiens in a critical matchup (7:00 PM, FanDuel Sports Detroit, 97.1 The Ticket).
However, forward Patrick Kane is unavailable and is considered day to day stemming from being shaken up earlier in the week in the aforementioned loss to Dallas.
Per MLive's Ansar Khan, Joe Veleno will return to the lineup after being designated a healthy scratch against the Flyers, while Elmer Soderblom remains with the club.
The Red Wings will be moving forward tonight with the following line combinations:
Marco Kasper-Dylan Larkin-Lucas Raymond
Alex DeBrincat-Andrew Copp-Vladimir Tarasenko
Jonatan Berggren-J.T. Compher-Joe Veleno
Elmer Soderblom-Michael Rasmussen-Christian Fischer
Ben Chiarot-Moritz Seider
Simon Edvinsson-Albert Johansson
Erik Gustafsson-Justin Holl
Power play units are as follows:
1. DeBrincat (net front), Larkin (bumper), Raymond-Tarasenko (flanks), Seider (point).
2. Rasmussen (net front), Compher (bumper), Berggren-Kasper (flanks), Gustafsson (point).
Considering how well the Canadiens have played in the last several weeks, the Red Wings have no choice but to avenge Montreal's 2-game sweep last month and make up ground in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference postseason race.
POLL | ||
JANVIER 23 | 128 ANSWERS Shorthanded Red Wings confirm new line combinations Is this Joe Veleno's last chance with the Red Wings? | ||
Yes | 107 | 83.6 % |
No | 21 | 16.4 % |
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