Game #11

THE GAME

Detroit Red Wings (7-2-1) @ Edmonton Oilers (3-5-2)

I'm excited for this game.  The Wings played arguably their best game of the season on Wednesday against Calgary and now they head to Edmonton to play a young Oiler team.  I'm looking forward to watching the likes of Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle.   Mike Babcock has come out and said that Jiri Hudler WILL play tonight.  Johan Franzen who missed practice this week due to a hip flexor WILL also play.   So who sits?  I agree with the idea that Mike Modano should take the night off.  First night of a back-to-back.  Give the old man some rest and have him fresh for a tough Canucks team on Saturday.  If Modano plays, we could see someone from the fourth line -- Drew Miller or Patrick Eaves -- take a seat.

THE EXPECTED LINE-UP

Pavel Datsyuk - Henrik Zetterberg - Tomas Holmstrom

Johan Franzen - Valtteri Filppula - Todd Bertuzzi (Hudler worked in)

Justin Abdelkader - Mike Modano - Danny Cleary

Drew Miller - Darren Helm - Patrick Eaves

Nicklas Lidstrom - Johnathon Ericsson

Niklas Kronwall - Brad Stuart

Jakub Kindl - Ruslan Salei

Jimmy Howard (starting)

Joey MacDonald 

In the press box: ____?____ (healthy scratch) and Chris Osgood (groin)

On STIR: Brian Rafalski (knee)

On LTIR: Kris Draper (groin)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• I didn't notice Jonathon Ericsson last game...and that's a good thing.  His pairing with Nick Lidstrom worked in Calgary and the two will be paired up again tonight. 

• Jimmy Howard is going for his 22nd consecutive regular season game without a regulation loss.  Jimmah!
• Danny Cleary was the best player on the ice last game.  Abby was a monster too.  Their line with Modano led the charge.  If Mo doesn't sit, their line is key to the overall success of this team.  Being able to roll four lines that are clicking on all cylinders will go a long way during the course of the season.
• I love me a good PK.  The Wings (90.2) are 3rd in the league in PK percentage behind only Boston (91.4) and Tampa Bay (90.4).  With that said, as good as the penalty kill is, the power play needs to step it up.  Detroit is 15th in the NHL in PP percentage.  8 for 50 (16%) is not going to cut it. 

• Jiri Hudler.  Score a goal.  Seriously...Do it...Do it........................Do it. (This is staying here too until Scuttles scores a goal).

BRENDAN SMITH

The Griffins take on the Manitoba Moose tonight in Grand Rapids.  The puck drops at 7PM.  

EMERSON HOCKEY

You know?  I've always hated music.  My team, the Emerson College Lions, takes on our arch rival, the Berklee College of Music Cats, tomorrow night.  The Boylston Cup is on the line.  It's our biggest game of the year.  I may be playing defense...or I'll be at forward...but most likely defense?  I'm like the better division III college club hockey version of Derek Meech.  I'll either be on the third defensive pair, the third line center, or a first or second line winger.  There will be a radio play-by-play of the game broadcast over the internet.  I'll post a link for everyone in case you have nothing to do on on a Saturday night but listen to a college club hockey on the internet.

Let's Go Red Wings.