The Detroit Red Wings host the San Jose Sharks this evening at Little Caesars Arena (8:00 PM EST on FSD/NBCS Bay Area/97.1 FM), with both teams looking to gain ground in desperate battles for playoff spots.
The Wings took to the ice at Little Caesars Arena for their morning skate just after 10:30 AM on Wednesday, and DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji confirmed that Petr Mrazek would start:
#RedWings Mrazek in starter’s net. #SJSharks in town tonight. pic.twitter.com/J74j6UlKBT
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) January 31, 2018
Also:
Looks promising for injured #RedWings Helm, Abdelkader and Daley. Took line rushes in morning skate.
…
#RedWings morning skate: Mantha-Zetterberg-Nyquist Bertuzzi-Larkin-Athanasiou (Booth extra)
Helm-Nielsen-Tatar
Frk-Glendening-Abdelkader
Ericsson-Daley
Kronwall-Green
DeKeyser-Jensen
Witkowski-Ouellet
The Wings said, “Hello”…
Morning skate ahead of tonight’s #SJSvsDET matchup at @LCArena_Detroit. #LGRWpic.twitter.com/4HAv8YNeuE
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 31, 2018
Update: Fox Sports Detroit said, “Hello”…
PING! Reminder game is on at 8pm & Red Wings Live hits the air at 7:30! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/xaUaSPRB1b
— FOX Sports Detroit (@FOXSportsDet) January 31, 2018
Update #2: The San Jose Sharks weighed in:
GAMEDAY! #SJSharks pay a visit to the Detroit Red Wings.
?: https://t.co/KK517AjfPD pic.twitter.com/kVQvqQKPNj
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) January 31, 2018
Quoting SanJoseSharks.com’s Ann Frazier and Chris Krygier:
Team Teal is coming off a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins last night. Despite the loss it was in fact a very close game. The shots outshot the Penguins 42-3i but couldn’t get passed Matt Murray.
Sharks forward Logan Couture scored his 200th NHL goal. Brent Burns also tallied a goal fresh off his appearance in Tampa Bay for All-Star Weekend. Martin Jones was back in net after missing four games with the lower body injury. He faced 30 shots, saving 26 of them.
The Sharks lines saw quite the change last game. With Joe Thornton out, we can expect things to continue to shuffle around as the team tries to find new chemistry.
AFTER THE SKATE, per DetroitRedWings.com…
Blashill said he expects Daley, Abdelkader and Helm all to play tonight. #SJSvsDET
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 31, 2018
Wakiji…
#RedWings Blashill said he expects Abdelkader, Helm and Daley to all play tonight vs #SJSharks.
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) January 31, 2018
Checking out that bobble. First 7500 fans through the door tonight will take one home courtesy, @DMC_Heals. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/HaiMfm2pVb
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 31, 2018
Nice to see Abby inserted on the 4th line rather than one of the kids demoted out of the top 6. The Helm-Nielsen-Tatar line makes very little sense to me. No identity. Would rather see Nielsen between Tatar and Frk. That’s a 3rd line that could score a few goals. That leaves Helm-Glendening-Abby as a competent 4th line, grossly overpaid, but that at least suits their skill set.
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