Everything you need to know ahead of Red Wings-Wild this evening at the Xcel Energy Center
This evening, the Detroit Red Wings (16-14-4) will return from their three-day holiday hiatus for a game with the Minnesota Wild (15-13-4) at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
The month of December has not been kind to the Red Wings, thanks in large part to the unfortunate confluence of a rash of injuries and a relentless calendar. Since the calendar turned over from November, Detroit is 4-7-1.
This isn't the first cold spell of the season for Derek Lalonde's team. Last month, the Red Wings endured a run of four losses in five games, culminating in the pointless trip to Sweden. The good news there is that the layoff as the team returned from Europe seemed to jolt Detroit, who would proceed to win six of their first seven upon returning to the States, into life. Perhaps, the NHL's Christmas break can spur a similar change in fortune.
Nov 26, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing David Perron (57) skates with the puck chased by Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin (25) in the second period at Little Caesars Arena. Berggren, Czarnik, Edvinsson Recalled; Fischer to Injured Reserve
Last night, the Red Wings announced that they were recalling Jonatan Berggren, Austin Czarnik, and Simon Edvinsson from the Grand Rapids Griffins, while moving Christian Fischer (who picked up an apparent head injury in a collision with Jeff Petry in Detroit's final game before the holiday break) to injured reserve.
Edvinsson played his first NHL game of the season in Detroit's 3-2 loss in New Jersey before the break. It was a quiet season debut for the Red Wings' top defense prospect; he played just 13:18 (most of it with Shayne Gostisbehere)—registering a lone shot attempt (which missed the net), two penalty minutes, an even rating, and a 37.2% share of on-ice xG at five-on-five.
Czarnik has played 16 games with Detroit this season, but that has generally come in a limited role. The checking forward is averaging just 8:36 in those games. Meanwhile, Berggren has played just seven NHL games this season, and, despite averaging just 9:57 in ice time himself, he's put up four points (two goals and two assists).
A player on IR cannot play again until seven days after they were placed there, so Fischer will not be eligible to return until the Red Wings' New Year's Eve date with the Boston Bruins.
Lyon Remains Unavailable in Goal
Alex Lyon was added to injured reserve on December 23rd but retroactive to his December 16th injury in Philadelphia, which is to say he is eligible to return at this point, but that return won't come tonight.
At the time of his injury, Lalonde said that he expected his goaltender to be back some time after Christmas, so his return should be imminent, but it won't come for at least another game.
Without Lyon (and Ville Husso, whom Lalonde described as "week-to-week" with a longer-term injury than Lyon's), Detroit will bring a goaltending tandem of James Reimer and Michael Hutchinson into tonight's game.
Given Reimer's performance against Philadelphia in his most recent start, it's difficult to feel much confidence at all in him between the pipes at the moment. His effort was poor by the advanced stats and worse by the eye test, allowing the Flyers to equalize then take a third-period lead on nearly identical failures to secure a puck he thought he had, both of which invited Philadelphia tap-ins.
Wild Red Hot Since Hynes Takeover
Detroit and the Wild met on November 26th, with the Red Wings claiming a 4-1 victory at Little Caesars Arena. That loss was Minnesota's seventh in a row, and it spelled the end of the line for coach Dean Evason.
Evason was replaced by John Hynes, and the Wild have responded to the change with 10 wins from 13 games. That record is made even more impressive when you consider that Minnesota has pulled off that run while dealing with injuries to key pieces like Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin, and Ryan Hartman. As Detroit's month has been defined by an inability to overcome key injuries, the Wild have managed to overcome their absences and remain on the rails.
Hartman will be in the lineup tonight, but Brodin will not and Spurgeon appears unlikely as well. Per THN Minnesota's Dylan Loucks, here is how the Wild lined up in morning skate:
Still, even with those injuries, Minnesota looks a much more formidable outfit than the one the Red Wings dispensed with at LCA a month ago, and it won't be an easy path out of a month-long mire for Detroit.
Where to Watch
Tonight's game (an 8 PM Eastern, 7 PM local start) will be on its familiar home of Bally Sports Detroit. Out-of-market fans will be able to find the game on ESPN+ or Hulu.