The Red Wings are in Columbus today as they get set to face the Blue Jackets. Detroit will look to avoid prolonging their most recent winless streak with a first win in four matches this evening.
The Wings are coming off a tough loss on home ice to the Ottawa Senators who obtained the W by a score of 4-3 in regulation. Even though the Senators are currently enjoying a good run of form, the Red Wings were definitely looking for something positive in a game against another team that is struggling immensely this season. As if the news of yet another defeat wasn't enough, the Wings are dealt another bad set of cards ahead of tonight's game in Columbus.
A trio of important veterans was added to an already crowded injury reserve list. Mike Green, Justin Abdelkader and Darren Helm will all be sidelined for this evening's matchup.
Joe Hicketts and Christoffer Ehn were the ones to be called back up from Grand Rapids to fill their shoes. Ehn will simply be plugged into the 4th line spot that was occupied by Helm in the previous game, while Mike Green's absence means that Jeff Blashill had to completely reshuffle his defense.
Jonathan Ericasson will remain on the first pair and will now be partenered up with Madison Bowey. Youngsters Filip Hronek and Dennis Cholowski wil form the second pairing. Joe Hicketts and gritty shutdown d-man, Dylan McIlrath will play together on the third defensive combination.
Jimmy Howard is set to get the nod as the starting netminder as Jonathan Bernier was the one who started in the loss to Ottawa.
Here is how the Red Wings should line up this evening against the Blue Jackets according to NHL.com correspondent Craig Merz:
Forwards:
Tyler Bertuzzi - Dylan Larkin -- Anthony Mantha
Andreas Athanasiou - Valtteri Filppula - Robby Fabbri
Taro Hirose - Frans Nielsen - Brendan Perlini
Christoffer Ehn - Luke Glendening - Adam Erne
Defensemen:
Jonathan Ericsson - Madison Bowey
Filip Hronek - Dennis Cholowski
Joe Hicketts - Dylan McIlrath
Goaltenders:
Jimmy Howard
Jonathan Bernier
Alex Biega will be the only healthy scratch tonight. Danny DeKeyser, Givani Smith, Trevor Daley and Patrik Nemeth complete the injury reserve along with Abdelkader, Green and Helm.
The depleted Red Wings will have their work cut out for them as the Blue Jackets are riding the wave of their current success.