Red Wings Seeking Traction and Battling Injuries Against the Bruins

Tonight at TD Garden in Boston, the Detroit Red Wings (10-11-3) will take on the Bruins (12-11-3), looking to get back in the win column after consecutive losses over the weekend—first Friday to the New Jersey Devils then Sunday afternoon against the Vancouver Canucks.

"The word 'traction,' I left here thinking of that word traction," said coach Derek Lalonde Monday before his team traveled to Boston, when asked for his reflections on the weekend.  "We're sitting here, we're wanting to have a good week, and we went 2-1-1.  We've taken points in five of our last seven games.  Those are all playoff pace-caliber.  That's a playoff pace week.  It's just you win two straight, you come out with two really good first periods against two playoff-caliber type teams, and you only get one point.  I think traction's the word.  You want more, but you gotta stay in the moment with it, so looking back, probably a missed opportunity. I felt we were the better team most of the night.  We lost our way a little bit in the second, and we couldn't close it out.  So it's an okay point, but that's certainly a game that you want...That word traction is something we're looking for."

Detroit will seek that traction against a Bruins team that is 4-2-0 (including a 2-1 win over the Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena) since Joe Sacco replaced Jim Montgomery behind the bench.  When asked where he sees a difference in Boston's play since the coaching change, Lalonde said, "I think they're more conscious of defending. I think that was probably, when the coaching change came in, they're gonna work from keeping it out of their net, and they've done that."

Of course, a successful tangle with the Bruins isn't just about breaking through a stingy defense.  It also requires keeping sniper David Pastrnak in check.  "He's a true goalscorer," Goalscorers like that can score in any situation.  They can score from distance.  That's what makes those type of players special.  I talk about [Alex Ovechkin] like that at times.  This day and age of numbers and analytics, you work so hard—I come in here after games, and we talk about how many slot chances we gave up or Grade A [chances] within the scoring area.  He can score from distance.  That's what makes him very special."  Detroit did a reasonable job containing Pastrnak at the two sides' recent meeting in Detroit, limiting the prolific Czech winger to two shots in 18:19 of action, though he did manage an assist.

Lineups

At yesterday's practice back in Detroit, the Red Wings offered a preview of their lineup as they continue to work through injuries, namely to forward Patrick Kane and defenseman Jeff Petry:

Lalonde ruled Kane out for tonight's game yesterday, and per Red Wings broadcast reporter Daniella Bruce, Petry will be a game-time decision.  The Detroit Free Press' Helene St. James provided an update from Lalonde on Detroit's two ailing goaltenders, saying that Cam Talbot has been ruled out for the two-game road trip and that he expects Alex Lyon to be out beyond those two games.  That leaves the Red Wings with a goaltending tandem of Ville Husso and rookie 2021 first round pick Sebastian Cossa, who has yet to make his NHL debut.  Husso will get the start tonight against the Bruins.

Where to Watch

Tonight's game (a 7 PM start) will not air on traditional television.  Instead, it will air exclusively via streaming on ESPN+ and Hulu.

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