The Red Wings are starting Alex Nedeljkovic against the Calgary Flames this evening (7:30 PM EDT on Bally Sports Detroit/Sportsnet East/Sportsnet Ontario/Sportsnet West/ESPN+/97.1 FM). After the Wings’ morning skate, the Red Wings’ coach and players spoke with the media:
“We don’t want Seider to be a good player, we want him to be a great player.” – Jeff Blashill. #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) October 21, 2021
Coach Blashill says Moritz Seider has earned the minutes he’s been playing the past three games #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) October 21, 2021
Just enjoy this one:
Missed this on @DetroitRedWings opening night: Dylan Larkin’s reaction to seeing Nicklas Lidstrom and Henrik Zetterberg
Awesome. https://t.co/POQKuwVlMB— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) October 21, 2021
Asked if being on the road is a good time for team bonding, Coach Blashill says “If you win” with a smirk #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) October 21, 2021
Also of note: we received two articles that broke too late in the night to fit in the Wings-Flames preview. CalgaryFlames.com’s Ryan Dittrick filed a game-day article…
DID YOU KNOW?
Johnny Gaudreau has had plenty of success against the Red Wings over his career. Gaudreau has five goals and 10 assists in 11 career games against the Winged Wheel.
The last time these two teams met in Detroit was on Feb. 23, 2020, Gaudreau opened the scoring in the first period with what was his 16th of the season to propel the Flames to a 4-2 victory at Little Caesars Arena.
Sean Monahan has points in four straight games against the Red Wings dating back to Jan. 2, 2019. On this streak vs. the Red Wings, Monahan has three goals and four assists for seven points in the last four meetings.
Elias Lindholm has notched a goal in the first two games of the season. With a goal tonight, Lindholm could tie the second-longest goal streak to open a season in Flames franchise history (3). A goal in each of the first three games was last accomplished by Sean Monahan from October 3-9, 2018.
Hat tip to Flames PR guru Dalton Ulrich for digging up these nuggets.
As did the Calgary Sun’s Wes Gilbertson:
WHY WATCH: If you’re a Flames fan, this is an easy one — despite all that talk about the importance of a strong start, Johnny Gaudreau, Elias Lindholm & Co. are still shooting for their first victory of the season as they arrive in the Motor City. The Flames did pick up a loser point in Monday’s overtime defeat to the Anaheim Ducks, but they’re pulling up the rear in the Pacific Division standings. While there’s a lot of hockey left, they can’t afford to dig themselves an early hole.
THREE THINGS
… about the Flames
1) This is supposed to be a bounce-back campaign for Sean Monahan, finally pain-free after hip surgery, but it’s been a struggle so far. The 27-year-old centre has mostly been an offensive non-factor through two games, had too good of a view of Monday’s overtime winner and found himself on the fourth line at practice the following day. Will he remain in that slot against the Red Wings, or was that just a warning?
2) Monahan isn’t the only dude who hasn’t been pulling his weight. As coach Darryl Sutter put it: “We have some guys that have to be better players for us … For the type of team we have, they have to be better players in order for us to win games.”
3) Off-season trade acquisition Tyler Pitlick declared himself ready after his debut in the Flaming C was delayed by a knee injury. The gritty right-winger should help a shorthanded unit that has already allowed three power-play tallies.
