Game Preview : Detroit Streak City

The Blackhawks roll into Detroit for a nationally televised game against the Red Wings this morning. The Hawks just can’t seem to do anything wrong this year. Even when they have a down night in a “trap game”, like they did against the Blue Jackets on Friday, they still find a way to win. The Blackhawks go into today’s game with a 16 point cushion on the hated Wings in the division standings. When was the last time Detroit was a complete non factor in the Central Division? I can’t remember when, but I am sure as shit enjoying it. This will be one of the final three games the Hawks and Wings can call each other division rivals which is a huge bummer. Don’t expect to see Dave Bolland on the ice for the Hawks this afternoon. Coach Q says he is “close” but that could mean Tuesday versus the Wild or the first week of April. Corey Crawford should get the start today, his first start since his mysterious upper body injury, which could be anything from a head cold to delayed concussion symptoms he suffered on Thursday in St. Louis. Yes. hockey coaches are very vague about injuries. Crawford has been very good against the Wings with a 8-2-2 record, a 1.97 goals against average and .940 save % in 12 career starts versus Detroit.

The Red Wings come into today’s game having won three out of their last four games. These are not the same Wings we are used to seeing. Normally the Hawks are trying to play catch up with Detroit, but this year the Hawks have ran away from the Wings in the standings. The Wings have given up 2.71 goals per game this year which puts them right in the middle of the pack. Their 2.76 goals scored per game is also right about the league average, proving that the Wings have become mediocre. The Wings have quite a few players on the injured list including Valtteri Filppula, Darren Helm and fart blossom Todd Bertuzzi. Jimmy Howard gets the start in net for the Red Wings today, who has only 4 regulation wins in 14 career starts against Hawks. The Blackhawks have earned at least one point in 11 of the last 13 games against Detroit including the last 7 in a row.

Probable Chicago Blackhawks lineup

Fowards

Brandon Saad – Jonathan Toews – Marian Hossa

Patrick Sharp – Marcus Kruger – Patrick Kane

Bryan Bickell – Andrew Shaw – Viktor Stalberg

Dan Carcillo – Michael Frolik – Brandon Bollig

Defensive Pairings

Duncan Keith – Brent Seabrook

Johnny Oduya – Niklas Hjalmarsson

Nick Leddy – Michal Rozsival

Goaltender

Corey Crawford 9-0-3, 1.46 GAA, .943 save %, 2 SO

Injuries

Dave Bollad (upper body, ok can we call it a concussion already?) day to day

Leading Scorers

Probable Detroit Red Wings lineup

Forwards

Johan Franzen – Henrik Zetterberg – Damien Brunner

Justin Abdelkader – Pavel Datsyuk – Danny Cleary

Tomas Tatar – Joakim Andersson – Patrick Eaves

Drew Miller – Cory Emmerton – Jordin Tootoo

Defensive Pairings

Niklas Kronwall – Jonathan Ericsson

Kyle Quincey – Brendan Smith

Brian Lashoff – Jakub Kindl

Goaltender

Jimmy Howard 8-7-2, 2.83 GAA, .903 save %, 1 SO

Injuries

Darren Helm (back) OUT, Todd Bertuzzi (back) OUT, Valterri Filppula (upper body) day to day, Mikael Samuelsson (broken finger) OUT, Carlo Colaiacovo (shoulder) OUT

Leading Scorers