Yahoo Sports History Doesn't Matter as Red Wings Keep Focus on Present vs. Ottawa
Tonight, the Detroit Red Wings will look to stretch their four-game winning streak (already a season best) to five, hosting the Ottawa Senators at Little Caesars Arena. With a win, Detroit could pull to within a point of a playoff spot, a spot that would have been unthinkable as recently as December. While that objective may be energizing, coach Todd McLellan wants his team's focus to remain on the present.
"You put the equipment on to have that opportunity to play at the end of the year," the coach said this morning, after his team's pre-game skate. "That's what 82 games and all the grind is for. So the fact that this group has been able to win some games and kind of crawl back into it is great, but I'm not bending at all on what I said about the process. Put the equipment on, worry about what happens in that 60 minutes, forget about the standings, forget about a four-game win streak or lose streak or the haven't been in the playoffs for this long streak. It doesn't matter. Let's look up a little later on in the year and see where we are."
In Detroit, the Senators will play the final chapter of a nine-game road trip that began before the NHL's holiday break, during which Ottawa has gone 4-4-0. Per McLellan, that timing suggests the Sens will be at the top of their game this evening: "I think we're gonna get a good hard game. [Coach] Travis [Green] has done a real good job of putting his fingerprints on that team. A lot of talent. Bodies that have size but can also really shoot the puck. They've got some legs on the back end that can skate. So they're fighting through a long road trip. That's not easy on anybody...I think the light for them is on at the end of the tunnel. They're getting home, so they're gonna want to have a real good game tonight, and we're not expecting anything other than their best."
As fans on both sides well know, the Red Wings and Senators have shared more than a few contentious moments in recent years, but McLellan isn't concerned with the past heading into tonight's game. When asked about Ottawa's recent success against his new team, McLellan replied,"I don't even know any of that stuff, and quite frankly I don't want to. I just want to worry about what we have in front of us today. History doesn't matter to me right now."
Marc DesRosiers, Imagn Images
Lineup
The Red Wings will be without defenseman Jeff Petry again tonight, who missed Saturday's game in Winnipeg after picking up an injury in Columbus last week. When asked about the timeline for Petry's return, McLellan did not have a definitive response but seemed to suggest he'd also be unlikely for Friday's game.
"He's not gonna play tonight, and we have a day off tomorrow," McLellan said of Petry. "The next opportunity for him to skate [is] on Thursday, and I would say on the feedback I'm getting, it's doubtful that he's gonna skate on that day. So you can see where this is going. It could be a little bit longer. But I can't come here and say he's gonna be out week-to-week or day-to-day yet, because I don't have that answer."
As expected, Justin Holl—who missed yesterday's practice due to a personal matter—was at morning skate today and should be back in the lineup. Albert Johansson took Petry's place in Winnipeg and should do so again tonight. Meanwhile, up front, expect to see the same forward lines Detroit used against the Jets, while Alex Lyon will get the nod again in net.
Where to Watch
Tonight's game (a 7 pm scheduled puck drop) will be available to watch in the usual places. FanDuel Sports Network Detroit in-market, ESPN+/Hulu out-of-market, and 97.1 The Ticket on the radio.
Also from THN Detroit
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