Everything you need to know ahead of tonight's game between Detroit and the Golden Knights in Las Vegas

The Detroit Red Wings have lost four games in a row, the latest—a 4-0 shutout loss in Arizona last night—the most humbling of the bunch and the one that's made tonight's game on the second leg of a back-to-back, on the road against the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights, feel a bit like a must win.

Coach Derek Lalonde called last night's effort against the Coyotes "very disappointing," saying that the Red Wings were doomed by an "inability to compete early on and lost battles" in a performance with "no energy, no pop,...[and a] lack of detail."

Veteran center Andrew Copp also pointed out that Detroit was undone by its start, saying "First 10 minutes, we weren't playing on our toes.  They get a couple early, and it's tough to fight back in this league when you're down 2-0, 3-0."

When asked about how the Red Wings can snap out of their present skid, Copp said, "We've gotta focus on that two [goals against] or less that we've talked about for a number of months, focus on team defense."  "Especially without [Dylan Larkin], we're not as high-octane offensively," he continued.  "We've got plenty of capable players to put the puck in the net, but we've gotta really commit to team defense."

Though there may have been glimpses of good hockey from Detroit in the second and third periods in Arizona, Copp also made clear that now isn't the time for moral victories: "We're not [at the right moment] for taking the positives.  We need points right now."  And now, after last night's loss, those points will have to come against the defending Cup champs in their building Saturday night.

Can Jonatan Berggren Provide a Spark?

While it might be unreasonable to place the burden of snapping the Red Wings out of this slump on the shoulders of a 23-year-old, Jonatan Berggren has been called up from Grand Rapids to help provide a salve to what ails Detroit.  Specifically, Berggren has the potential to breathe life and "hopefully a little spark," in Lalonde's words, into the Red Wings' sputtering, Larkin-less top six.

At the time of his call-up, Berggren leads the Griffins in goals (19), assists (27), and points (46) in 43 AHL games this season.  He's also played in nine NHL games this season, scoring twice and providing three assists.  Berggren brings a unique offensive profile. He shows a veteran's aptitude for manipulating and finding space in the offensive zone, and he is a legitimate dual-threat as a scorer and playmaker.

Berggren also has now played 76 NHL games, which means that if he plays four more, he must pass through waivers before being returned to GR.  At his press conference yesterday, Steve Yzerman said he would not take that chance, so it appears—between the trade that sent Klim Kostin to San Jose and Larkin's injury—Berggren is now likely with Detroit to stay.

Berggren has become an offensive force for the Griffins this season, but even in his NHL cameos, he's been highly productive.  He actually leads Detroit in points-per-60 minutes at five-on-five for the season.  Berggren has scored 3.37 of them in 89:01 with the Red Wings this season, ahead of Patrick Kane (2.73 in 439:55), Lucas Raymond (2.4 in 850:25), Daniel Sprong (2.39 in 653:09), and Alex DeBrincat (2.21 in 866:55).

Of course, Berggren's numbers there benefit from the fact that he has played significantly fewer minutes than all of his competition, but the fact remains that Detroit has scored twice in its last three games.  Berggren can't solve that problem on his own, but he can help.

Knights Assume Post-Deadline New-Look

As has seemed to be the case from the moment they arrived in the league, the Golden Knights were the biggest story of the NHL's trade deadline by swinging a shocking deal with their division rival San Jose Sharks to acquire Tomas Hertl.  Hertl is on injured reserve, so he won't actually be relevant to tonight's game, but Anthony Mantha and Noah Hanifin (Vegas' two other deadline acquisitions) have already made their Knights debuts and will be in the lineup.

Mantha, of course, spent six seasons with the Red Wings, scoring 194 points in 302 games before being sent to the Capitals in exchange for Jakub Vrana.  Meanwhile, Hanifin entered the week of the deadline as the consensus top defenseman available.

However, despite the flashy deals, Vegas is limping into tonight's game just the way Detroit is.  The Golden Knights have also lost four straight (at Boston, Buffalo, and Columbus, then at home Thursday night against the Canucks).  So, somebody's skid will have to break this evening at T-Mobile Arena.

Also from THN Detroit

Jonatan Berggren Called Up to Red Wings Roster Ahead of Vegas Game

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Steve Yzerman Emphasizes Internal Talent and Depth to Explain Quiet Red Wings Trade Deadline

In First Deadline Trade, Detroit Sends Klim Kostin to San Jose