Game #12

THE GAME

Detroit Red Wings (8-2-1) @ Vancouver Canucks (7-3-2)

I hate Mikael Samuelsson. 

THE EXPECTED LINE-UP

Pavel Datsyuk - Henrik Zetterberg - Tomas Holmstrom

Johan Franzen - Valtteri Filppula - Todd Bertuzzi

Justin Abdelkader - Mike Modano - Danny Cleary

Jiri Hudler/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: Drew Miller/Jiri Hudler (healthy scratch) and Chris Osgood (groin)

On STIR: Brian Rafalski (knee)

On LTIR: Kris Draper (groin)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• Mikael Samuelsson will miss the net high and wide multiple times.
• Can the third line (Abby/Modano/Cleary) keep up their great play?
• According to the Freep, it might be Miller Time tonight.  Babs might put Miller back on the fourth line.  Which would mean Hudler would be healthy scratch again....or will Uncle Mike go another direction?

• Back-to-back starts for Jimmy Howard tonight.  First time this season for him.  He is going for his 23nd consecutive regular season game without a regulation loss.  Jimmah!

• 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 lost to the Moose last night 6-5.  The game winning goal came when Thomas McCollum stopped a Manitoba shot and the rebound deflected of Brenda Smith and into the back of the net.  Tough break for the team.  Overall though, Smith played a solid game.  He finished the night even with a goal and an assist.   His goal came in the 3rd period and tied the game 5-5.  It was his third straight game with a goal.  Smith is now second in team scoring (5G, 6A) with 11 points in 10 games.  The Griffins host the Chicago Wolves tonight at 7PM.

Let's Go Red Wings.