Red Wings Game Day Notebook 10.18.23 & Where to Watch

After improving to 2-1-0 with a win in Columbus Monday, the Detroit Red Wings return to action tonight, hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins at Little Caesars Arena.

As Christian Fischer explained it to The Hockey News after this morning's pre-game skate, the sloppy first period before dominant second and third helped Detroit develop a clearer sense of how it looks and feels when the team is dialed into its identity.

"You see our team, when we're on, we play a very forechecking, high tempo game, a lot of tracking above pucks, play heavy, play hard," Fischer said.  "It's clear when we do that we pretty much dominate the other team.  We're having possession a lot, create a lot of chances."

"That's when guys start to feel good and believe in it," he continued.  "Each guy the second and third period last game probably felt very good in their own game, and it was a team game.  It's proof of concept that hey, if we do it this way, we're gonna have the puck the whole night, we're gonna have 10 scoring looks in each period, and we did that against Tampa and Columbus and at times in New Jersey too.  So I think that makes it easier for to us say, 'okay, well it worked those three times.  I'm pretty sure it's gonna work if we keep doing it that way.'"

The Red Wings will look to build on that confidence this evening.

After this morning's skate, head coach Derek Lalonde revealed that two unnamed Red Wing defensemen are dealing with minor injuries, so the plan will be to dress seven D for warm-ups and determine who is ready to play come game time.  The forward lines are set to remain unchanged from the win over the Blue Jackets, and Detroit will not use seven D when the puck drops.

"I hope we have this problem for a long time," said Lalonde of the present rotation on defense.  "That means all seven stay healthy, and no one's separated themselves in a negative way.  We still have that spot to maybe hold someone accountable, poor performance, or not having the right approach every day, and we're not opposed to going seven and 11."

He added that communication is key when it comes to managing seven player for (normally) six spots on the back end.  "Trying to be as direct as possible," Lalonde said.  "I know it wasn't ideal.  Did not love sitting Olli or Jeff.  They handled it real well, and someone's number will be called again."

To Lalonde, the modern player has a desire for immediate feedback that may not have existed when he began coaching.

"They want instant feedback, they want to know why, and they should," he said of today's NHL player.  "That's just the reality of it.  So it's not ideal [to have to scratch a defenseman most nights].  It's gone well so far, and we'll have bumps in the road as long as everyone keeps staying healthy and playing well."

In net, Ville Husso will start, after being spelled by James Reimer on Monday. 

The Penguins arrive in Detroit with an identical 2-1-0 record to the Red Wings.  Like their hosts this evening, Pittsburgh dropped its season opener before winning its last two—first on the road in Washington then at home over the Flames.

The Penguins combined for nine goals over those two victories, and the top-end talent at the top of their line-up—centered around franchise pillars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang—continues to strike fear in opponents around the league.

As Fischer put it, "You know what you're getting with the Pittsburgh Penguins."

"It's the reality of our conference, what you get every night," said Lalonde of the Penguins star power.  "I like what Pittsburgh did.  You watch them back and scout, you see their line-up and obviously a world class top six, but I like what they did with the bottom six.  I like what they did with their D corps.  This is a team looking to contend, so it's yet another really good challenge and opportunity for us."

Lalonde noted that a priority for the Red Wings tonight will be managing Pittsburgh's dynamic playmakers on the back end.  "We played a Columbus team that had very active D—not of that caliber, and you saw the first period, those guys got up ice involved in the the rush, and it led to a sloppy period for us," he said.  "So we have to get above those guys.  We talked about not giving stars easy offense, especially those guys in the back end."

"Coming into the league six years ago now, I get asked all the time, who gives that 'Wow!' when you're on the bench for the first time, and it was Sid," he added.  "Just everything he did.  So I think it's obviously talent, a feel for the game, but I think those guys are so driven, so special for so long." 

On Malkin, Lalonde added, "he gets in those games where he's just going to take over...hopefully not tonight."

Of course, the new face in town for the Penguins is defenseman Erik Karlsson, who arrived in Pittsburgh via a summer blockbuster trade from San Jose.  The 33-year-old is arguably the best defenseman of his generation—a transcendent skater and puck-carrier with spectacular gifts as a playmaker.  Even in the latter stages of his career, his dynamism remains in place.

To Fischer, the key to curbing Karlsson's game is taking away his time and space:

"You can't give [Karlsson] space.  I know it sounds like a very simple answer, but the more time he has the puck in any scenario—D zone, O zone, skaying up the ice—just don't want him to have it in his hands for more than three or four seconds to give those guys time and space to make really good plays...A guy like that, even when he doesn't have the puck, just go stand next to him so that he doesn't have that time when he does get the puck."

Tristan Jarry is expected to get the start in goal for the Penguins.

Through three games, Joe Veleno is thriving for the Red Wings.  It started in a fourth line role, while playing robust minutes on the PK, before assuming the third center spot in the win over the Blue Jackets.

His line—with Daniel Sprong and David Perron—paid immediate dividends for Lalonde.  To Veleno, it was a case of the trio's familiarity and overlapping skillsets creating immediate chemistry.

"We just complement each other with our styles of play," Veleno told The Hockey News yesterday.  "DP is one of the best at protecting pucks down low and oviously winning his battles.  And obviously Sprong with his shot.  And I guess my two-way play and being the in right spot defensively and trying to give them the puck offensively.  With our speed, we can make some plays."

The end result is a more confident Veleno than ever before.  "I felt really good in the preseason and built some confidence there," he said this morning.  "I think it's just that mindset of trusting in my abilities, playing with confidence, and guys are supporting me."

The highlight Monday night came when Veleno delivered an assist for Shayne Gostisbehere on the game's opening goal.

As Veleno explained to The Hockey News, he knew the lane would be open based on Detroit's quick work up ice and a shoulder check that revealed there was room for Gostisbehere on the rush:

"We transitioned that puck pretty quick.  I got the puck from Olli, and I was shoulder-checking to see what was up ice, and they didn't really have any back-checkers or trackers, so I knew it was a three-on-two or four-on-two.  I had tons of speed coming in...that D was kind of hesitant coming to me, so I just had some room.  I went wide, and, as soon as I looked over my shoulder, he was wide open in the middle."

Veleno will remain in that 3C role tonight and look to continue to build on his strong form.

Tonight's game, a 7:30 start, will be on TNT.  For cord-cutters, it will also be available on the MAX app.