Both Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen and MLive’s Ansar Khan filed morning notebooks based upon yesterday’s post-practice press conferences.
Duff focused upon how the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry may play into the game…
“It’s probably the ugliest stadium I’ve ever been in,” Larkin suggested.
Granted, the bitterness of the Ohio State vs Michigan rivalry might be coloring Larkin’s opinion somewhat. At the same time, that Michigan vs Ohio factor is just one of many layers making this arguably the NHL’s most enticing outdoor game ever.
“For sure,” Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond said. “I mean, I think it adds to it. With the Michigan-Ohio rivalry and obviously the importance of a game where the standings is at, but at the same time, I think most guys enjoy playing those type of games. It’s a big-time game and I think most guys thrive in those environments.”
That’s the other factor ramping up the intensity of this game. The Red Wings and Blue Jackets are deadlocked in the standings with 66 points. Both sit tied for seventh overall in the Eastern Conference. This game could play a vital role in determining playoff seedings, or even playoff appearances for that matter.
Add in the fact that Columbus whipped Detroit 5-2 on Thursday at Little Caesars Arena and there’s another element for the Red Wings to embrace. They’d love to spoil the first outdoor appearance ever made by the Blue Jackets franchise.
“This one, it has a lot at stake to it,” Detroit forward Patrick Kane said. “Especially with them coming into our building (Thursday) night and taking two points from us. We’d like to do the same to them here in Columbus.”
And MLive’s Ansar Khan discussed the novelty of playing outdoors:
“It’s exciting to get back outside and see that feeling of just like walking into a rink in the middle of a football field and seeing the lights and how many people the stadium could fit,” [Patrick] Kane said during his media scrum in Columbus.
Temperatures are expected to be in the mid- to high 20s, which is good, but strong wind gusts are possible, which isn’t so good, at least for one team.
“I’m sure the ice will be a little bit better (tonight), being colder,” Kane said. “Sometimes today I noticed it a little bit, you’re skating into the wind, and then the other way, you’re skating with the wind at your back. That could be something that comes into play where maybe they might switch the sides with 10 minutes left in (the third) period.”
Lucas Raymond is among the players taking part in his first NHL outdoor game.
“Just looking up, seeing the big stadium and all the seats, it’s great,” Raymond told reporters. “The challenge of playing on a rink like that, I don’t know what it’s going to be like in a game, but from practice, the ice isn’t going to be perfect, but it’s the same for everyone out there.”
McLellan didn’t reveal his lineup, but Cam Talbot is expected to start in goal. It would be his third outdoor game as a starter.
“For goalies the biggest thing is depth perception,” Talbot said. “There’s nothing behind the glass, so it throws your depth perception off on a shot. It’s different when you can see the people behind the glass, so anything from distance or (the puck) gets flipped up in the air you can lose it a little bit easier. From a goalie’s perspective, I don’t think the conditions are always ideal. Both goalies have to deal with the same conditions, so there’s no excuses.”
