Chicago Blackhawks vs Detroit Red Wings Game 18 Preview
Tonight's Venue: Little Caesars Arena
All-Time DET vs CHI Record at Venue: 2-1-2
Season Series vs CHI: 0-2-1
Goaltender DET: J. Bernier (5 GP, 3-1-0, 0.886% Sv%, 3.22 GAA)
Goaltender CHI: K. Lankinen (11 GP, 6-2-3, 0.925% Sv%, 2.49 GAA)
DET Puckline: +1.5 (-230), +120 Moneyline
CHI Puckline: -1.5 (+185), -139 Moneyline
(Sign up for Draft Kings and use promo code THPN to access exclusive offers)
Players to watch (DET): F. Zadina, R. Fabbri, J. Benier
Players to watch (CHI): P. Kane, D. Kubalik, K. Lankinen
Jesse's Prediction: 3-2 Red Wings
Matt's Prediction: 4-1 Red WIngs
Mike's Prediction:
In the third round of the season versus the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night, another close game eluded the Wings, this time in extra time. The Wings had points in consecutive games for the first time this season, gathering one point by extending the game to overtime, but it was a game that the Red Wings should have won.
In a tune that has been playing throughout most of the games this season, the Wings have actually been very competitive and very close in a majority of their games. That fact makes it all the more frustrating as the Wings continuously lose matchups, with a meager 0.324 point percentage good for 30th in the entire league.
While the WIngs seem so close to a victory they can taste it, we have a list of 5 keys to tonight’s matchup that’ll help the Red Wings earn a ‘W’ vs the Blackhawks.
Keys to the Game:
🔑 1: The Power Play
Shocking, right?
Although the Red Wings only had two opportunities with the man advantage, they once again failed to produce. The Wings haven’t scored a goal on the power play since January 28th against Dallas, scored by Tyler Bertuzzi (INJ) and assisted by Michael Rasmussen (AHL) and Filip Hronek.
Since that goal, the Red Wings have gone 0/27 on the Power play. Simply unacceptable. If this team could produce even slightly more on the power play, this team would be alarmingly close to a 0.500 points percentage rating.
🔑 2: Details & Communication
Two out of the three goals against the Red Wings by the Blackhawks on Monday night were caused simply by miscommunication and lack of attention to detail. The lack of details is something that has likely cost the Wings a majority of their games this season.
Passes in the feet or behind their target, getting out of position, and other costly errors have been a thorn in the Wings’ side this entire campaign. Although originally accredited to “ring rust” and the massive amount of turnover the roster received with minimal training camp to get things rolling in the right direction, the Wings are over a quarter of the way through the season at this point at that excuse is no longer acceptable.
They simply need to be better.
If they can iron out details and communicate properly on the ice, everything else will come together with ease.
🔑 3: Leaders Need to Lead
This is the second key that is getting a repeat, and it’s getting the repeat with more emphasis. Both Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha went pointless on Monday night’s close game. Larkin now has failed to produce a single point in three straight games and has only 2 points in his last 11 games. The newly coined “Captain” of the Detroit Red Wings needs to do better as we all know he can.
Another player who should be a leader and had an absolute atrocious night on Monday is Filip Hronek. Hronek holds a majority of the blame for misreading the play in overtime that led to the game-losing goal, as well as failing to tie up the stick on Chicago’s second goal of the game.
Hronek has had a rough season thus far and there’s no time like the present to turn that around. He’s been right on par with his expected offensive production from the blue line but has failed to contribute defensively to the game as well as he has in the past.
🔑 4: Lineup Alterations
Sticking with the exact same formula that won you a game is usually a sound strategy, and Blashill followed said strategy. After yet another loss, however, there should be some shifting in the lineup. There was some roster movement lately but those moves are unlikely to have an immediate impact on a nightly lineup.
Blashill should be moving on from the experiment involving Mathias Brome playing top-line minutes with Dylan Larkin and Filip Zadina. Brome was third in ice-time for forwards with 18:12 on Monday, behind Dylan Larkin (22:06) and Filip Zadina (20:00).
Brome has played several games on Larkin’s wing in Tyler Bertuzzi’s absence but has yet to register a single point through 15 games. Larkin has also been stymied in the offensive zone for around the same timeline that Brome has been on his wing.
I don’t believe it’s possible for Svechnikov to play tonight due to the likely requirement of a quarantine period going from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins to Detroit’s taxi squad before he can join the lineup.
Even with Svechnikov not being an option, Smith being sent to the AHL, and Tyler Bertuzzi still out on injury, there are subtle changes Blashill can make to the lineup to keep things interesting. While we all get routinely annoyed with the Blashill Blender, there should be lineup changes following a loss and to try and get players going again offensively, especially Dylan Larkin.
🔑 5: Stay Disciplined
Detroit managed to kill off three penalties against the Blackhawks on Monday, but each time they went to the box was playing with fire. The Blackhawks own the third-best power play in the league at 32.7%. The Wings need to outperform Chicago at even strength to win the game and will likely continue to lose the special teams battle in both regards.
Quick Plug!
Don’t forget! We have a Giveaway on our Twitter page, right now! Go to @BODHockey and follow the instructions below to be entered to win a set of Red Wings GLoves and Scarf!
We’re also sponsored by Draft Kings! Unlock exclusive offers by using the promo code THPN when you sign up!
Download the app, for Draft Kings, and sign up today!
#LGRW
