Everything you need to know ahead of Red Wings-Oilers tonight at Little Caesars Arena
Everything you need to know ahead of Red Wings-Oilers tonight at Little Caesars Arena
Tonight, the Detroit Red Wings (20-16-4) will entertain the visiting Edmonton Oilers (21-15-1, winners of eight straight) at Little Caesars Arena. Here's what you need to know ahead of tonight's game.
Lineup
Here's how the Red Wings took line rushes at this morning's skate:
There was a good deal of mixing and matching amongst Detroit's defensemen at the morning skate, but the good news for Red Wing fans is that Jake Walman did take part in the skate, after not practicing yesterday. Coach Derek Lalonde clarified after the skate that Walman was feeling much better today after being a bit under the weather a day ago.
Alex Lyon will start in goal for Detroit. This will be his sixth straight start in net for the Red Wings.
Wrangling McDavid and Draisaitl
When thinking of the current incarnation of the Edmonton Oilers, it's impossible not to immediately drift to their twin superstars: Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
After this morning's skate, Derek Lalonde pushed back against this perception, pointing out that the Oilers' success in recent years has depended on greater depth than they tend to be credited for.
"People that know Edmonton [know] that they're a relentless forecheck team," Lalonde said. "They're not just those two players. They're actually a very deep group up front. It's actually impressive to watch them back in scouting."
Still, a pair of Hart Trophy winners are impossible to ignore at the top of the lineup, and that duo sits first (McDavid, with 55 points in 35 games) and second (Draisaitl, with 43 in 37) on the team in scoring.
Per, Ben Chiarot this morning, they are "very different players but always tough. They're always looking for each other. Just do your best to take away time and space and make it hard on them, but they're the best players in the world for a reason. They're gonna get their looks."
Chiarot pointed out that they use divergent styles to achieve similarly devastating ends. "They're complete opposites," he told The Hockey News. "Connor's gonna be off the rush, use his speed. Draisaitl's more use his strength down low, find guys open, so two different games but equally dangerous."
When asked whether he prefers to try to counter players like McDavid and Draisaitl with a line that will keep the puck away for them or one that excels defensively, Lalonde explained that there must be a balance there. "A player of that ilk is going to create some issues for us, so there's always that balance of if you have the puck is probably the best defense, but I'm still probably a little more old school where I would love to have a true checking line," he offered after yesterday's practice.
Where to Watch
Tonight's game (a 7:00 PM) start will be on its familiar home of Bally Sports Detroit. For out of market fans, it will be in its usual homes of Hulu and ESPN+.
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